Cultivating support during COVID-19 through clinical supervision: A discussion article.

AIM: This article aims to discuss how clinical supervision is an important approach in supporting frontline nurses and students during and post COVID-19 through the lens of the nursing metaparadigms. DESIGN: Discussion article. METHODS: Discourse of the literature considering the importance of working collaboratively with healthcare and educational organisations in operationalising clinical supervision. RESULTS: The evidence base supporting clinical supervision as an effective support strategy for nurses exists, however, its implementation and practice has become sporadic. A resurgence is required to support student's and nurse's during this pandemic. It is timely for nurse educators to creatively engage with clinical partners in supporting clinical supervision to enhance both nurses and students pandemic practice experiences. Clinical supervision is proposed as one strategy to support and guide both nurses and students to develop, strengthen and challenge the effectiveness of their care during COVID-19.

Transatlantic Collaborations: Baccalaureate Nursing Students' Experiences of Participating in a Semester-Long Study Abroad Program.

AIM: The aim of this study was to describe students' experiences during a 15-week semester involving clinical placement in an Irish university. BACKGROUND: Internationalization is promoted and facilitated through study abroad initiatives within nurse education. Collaborations were developed between one university in the United States, an Irish university, and service partners. This study abroad initiative involved planning logistics, curriculum learning opportunities, and negotiating clinical placement in meeting state professional requirements. METHOD: A qualitative descriptive approach was used. Following ethical approval, 19 fourth-year students participated in focus group and individual semistructured interviews. Data analysis followed a thematic approach. RESULTS: Connecting our worlds details a process of acclimatizing, navigating learning, and using person-centered practices, illustrating meaningful learning in a journey of personal and professional development. CONCLUSION: Moving beyond the rhetoric of globalization is critical in future proofing initiatives in developing nursing practitioners while balancing potential safety risks in a post-COVID-19 era.

Guiding nurse managers in supporting nurses in dealing with the ethical challenge of caring.

AIM(S): This study aims to present the theory of resigning in supporting nurse managers in dealing with nurses' ethical challenge of caring. BACKGROUND: In a COVID-19 era, nurses continue to be ethically challenged in maintaining safe patient care. Nurse managers play a critical role supporting staff in responding to the complexities of working in, under resourced environments. EVALUATION: Literature suggests care delivery is compromised in times of staff shortages, lack of resources and increased demands on nurses. Examining caring behaviours through the theoretical lens of the theory of resigning enables nurse managers to understand nurses' behaviours, cultivating supportive working environments. KEY ISSUE(S): Nurses strive to provide quality, safe care but are sometimes unable to give the level or type of care they wish, due to the presence of constraints. CONCLUSION(S): This paper provides suggestions for nurse managers in dealing with nurses' daily moral distress arising from working within constraints while still trying to provide safe care. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING MANAGEMENT: Nurse managers need to develop greater insights into the ethical dilemmas nurses experience and support them to temporarily realign beliefs and values, while continuing to work within constraints. Understanding ethical dilemmas of prioritizing care is required to address and manage this concern.

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and its related restrictions on people with pre-existent mental health conditions: A scoping review.

CONTEXT: Globally, governments have introduced a variety of public health measures including restrictions and reducing face-to-face contact, to control the spread of COVID-19. This has implications for mental health services in terms of support and treatment for vulnerable groups such as people with pre-existent mental health conditions. However, there is limited evidence of the impact of COVID-19 and its related restrictions on people with pre-existent mental health conditions. OBJECTIVES: To identify the impact of COVID-19 and its related restrictions on people with pre-existent mental health conditions. METHODS: A scoping review of the literature was employed. Eight electronic databases (PsycINFO, Cochrane, Web of Science, MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, Scopus, Academic Search Complete) were searched and 2566 papers identified. 30 papers met the criteria for this review and findings were summarised under three key review questions. RESULTS: COVID-19 and its related restrictions have had a notable effect on people with pre-existent mental health conditions. Public health restrictions have contributed to increased levels of social isolation, loneliness, and reduced opportunities for people to connect with others. Reduced access to health services and treatments has compounded matters for those seeking support. Exacerbation and deterioration of symptoms are commonly reported and can lead to greater susceptibility to COVID-19 infection. IMPLICATIONS: The importance of proactive planning, alternative accessible healthcare services and supports for vulnerable and at-risk groups is illuminated. Increased monitoring, early intervention and individually tailored care strategies are advocated. Recommendations revolve around the need for enhanced provision of remote support strategies facilitated using technology enhanced resources. ACCESSIBLE SUMMARY.

Demystifying, recognising and combating racism during the pandemic.

The increased reports of escalation of social inequalities, xenophobic and racist ideologies during the COVID-19 pandemic presents a growing concern. Nurses are not immune to xenophobia and racism, both as perpetrators and as victims. Although COVID-19 brings a new wave of xenophobia and racism, healthcare organisations have been tackling discriminatory and racist practices for decades. However, racist practice quite often goes undetected or unchallenged due to its associated sensitivity and a lack of understanding of its complexity. There is a need for a more open and non-judgemental discourse around interpretations of racism and its predisposing factors as a means of combating the growing reports. This discussion paper proposes a practice-orientated conceptualisation of racism and outlines some particular and sustainable areas for consideration for nurses to use in their daily practice. Developing self-awareness and nurturing the courage, confidence and commitment to challenge self and others is critical for transforming ethnocentric and racist ideologies.

Cultivating ethical leadership in the recovery of COVID-19.

AIM: To propose the necessity of fostering ethical leadership in the recovery of COVID-19. BACKGROUND: Supporting physically and emotionally exhausted nurses, whilst ensuring quality standards of care delivery in the recovery phase of COVID-19, requires careful, considerate and proactive planning. EVALUATION: Drawing on literature and utilizing Lawton and Paez Gabriunas' (2015) integrated ethical leadership framework (purpose, practices, virtues), possible practical suggestions for the operationalization of ethical leadership are proposed. DISCUSSION: Nurse managers must maintain ethical vigilance in order to nurture value-driven behaviour, demonstrating empathy and compassion for nurses experiencing physical and emotional exhaustion because of COVID-19. It is important that open dialogue, active listening and self-care interventions exist. Nurse managers have an essential role in inspiring and empowering nurses, and building morale and a collective commitment to safe and quality care. CONCLUSION: Nurse managers need to consider ways of empowering, supporting and enabling nurses to apply ethical standards in everyday practice. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING MANAGEMENT: Fostering ethical nurse leadership requires careful and sensitive planning, as well as charismatic, compassionate and inspirational leaders. Supporting staff through respect, empathy, role modelling and genuine conscientiousness is essential for increasing job performance and sustaining an ethical work environment.