"If I Can't Do It, Who Will?" Lived Experiences of Australian Emergency Nurses During the First Year of the COVID-19 Pandemic.

INTRODUCTION: The World Health Organization estimates that approximately 180,000 health care workers have died in the fight against COVID-19. Emergency nurses have experienced relentless pressure in maintaining the health and well-being of their patients, often to their detriment. METHODS: This research aimed to gain an understanding of lived experiences of Australian emergency nurses working on the frontline during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic. A qualitative research design was used, guided by an interpretive hermeneutic phenomenological approach. A total of 10 Victorian emergency nurses from both regional and metropolitan hospitals were interviewed between September and November 2020. Analysis was undertaken using a thematic analysis method. RESULTS: A total of 4 major themes were produced from the data. The 4 overarching themes included mixed messages, changes to practice, living through a pandemic, and 2021: here we come. DISCUSSION: Emergency nurses have been exposed to extreme physical, mental, and emotional conditions as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. A greater emphasis on the mental and emotional well-being of frontline workers is paramount to the success of maintaining a strong and resilient health care workforce.

Exploring the experiences of frontline nurses during the first 6 months of the COVID-19 pandemic: An integrated literature review.

AIM: The aim of this study was to explore the experiences of frontline nurses caring for patients during the first 6 months of the COVID-19 pandemic. DESIGN: The JBI manual for evidence synthesis and the PRISMA guidelines for reporting. DATA SOURCES: CINAHL Complete, MEDLINE, PsycINFO (EBSCO) and Scopus (Elsevier). REVIEW METHODS: The JBI Mixed Methods Data Extraction Tool following a Convergent Integrated Approach. RESULTS: Nineteen studies were included in the review, comprising eight countries and 2525 frontline nurses. Six themes emerged encompassing frontline nurses' COVID-19 experiences including emotional experiences, physical symptoms, ethical and moral challenges, professional impact, risk factors for negative emotional experiences and protective factors for future pandemic events. CONCLUSION: Frontline nurses have faced numerous challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic. Providing frontline nurses with the required resources and support to perform their roles in global healthcare crises allows for an empowered and resilient workforce ensuring nurses remain in their chosen profession.