Health-care providers' experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic: lessons for leaders.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this qualitative research study is to explore health-care providers' perspectives and experiences with a specific focus on supports reported to be effective during the COVID-19 pandemic. The overarching goal of this study is to inform leaders and leadership regarding provision of supports that could be implemented during times of crisis and in the future beyond the pandemic. DESIGN/METHODOLOGY/APPROACH: Data were collected by semi-structured, conversational interviews with a sample of 33 health-care professionals, including Registered Nurses, Nurse Practitioners, Registered Psychologists, Registered Dieticians and an Occupational Therapist. FINDINGS: Three major themes emerged from the interview data: (1) professional and personal challenges for health-care providers, (2) physical and mental health impacts on health-care providers and (3) providing supports for health-care providers. The third theme was further delineated into three sub-theses: formal resources and supports, informal resources and supports and leadership strategies. ORIGINALITY/VALUE: Health-care leaders are advised to pay attention to the voices of the people they are leading. It is important to know what supports health-care providers need in times of crisis. Situating the needs of health-care providers in the Carter and Bogue Model of Leadership Influence for Health Professional Wellbeing (2022) can assist leaders to deliberately focus on aspects of providers' wellbeing and remain cognizant of the supports needed both during a crisis and when circumstances are unremarkable.

Facilitating family-focused Care of Older adults living in Long-Term Care in Canada during Restricted Visiting due to COVID-19.

BACKGROUND: The focus of this paper is exemplary gerontological nursing interventions that effectively supported families and long-term care residents in Canada during visiting restrictions resulting from COVID-19. OBJECTIVE: The aim was to describe exemplary gerontological nursing interventions that families and long-term care residents in Canada found supportive during visiting restrictions resulting from COVID-19. METHODS: An analysis of data artefacts including news reports, blogs and social media postings was completed. RESULTS: Thematic analysis resulted in four themes: dedication amidst challenge, innovation and continuous learning, living their nursing values and purposeful knowledge sharing. These themes are described using a framework that depicts four pillars of exemplary nursing practice: professionalism, scholarly practice, leadership and stewardship (Riley, Beal, & Ponte, 2021). CONCLUSIONS/IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: A link is made between these pillars of exemplary practice and enactment of family-focused care. Recommendations focused on gerontological nursing approaches that facilitate family-focused care for older adults residing in long-term care are included.

#Morethanavisitor: Experiences of COVID-19 visitor restrictions in Canadian long-term care facilities.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to understand the experiences of families, residents, and staff around visitor restriction policies in long-term care during the COVID-19 pandemic in Canada. Background: Beginning in March 2020, public health orders across Canada restricted visitors to long-term care facilities to curb the spread of the infection. This included family caregivers who provide significant support to residents to meet their physical, psychological, social, and safety needs. Method: We collected data from publicly available news and social media. News articles, blogs, and tweets from Canada were collected from March 2020 to April 2021. In total, 40 news articles, eight blogs, and 23 tweets were analyzed using generic qualitative description. Results: Reports from family members indicate that some residents may have died from malnutrition, dehydration, and isolation, rather than from COVID-19, because of the sudden and prolonged absence of family caregivers. There are long-term impacts on family suffering and long-term care worker burnout. Policy and structural issues were identified. Conclusion: Experiences in long-term care reflected not only impacts of pandemic-related visitor restrictions, but also long-standing funding and workforce issues. Implications: Involvement of family, and specifically family caregivers, is crucial in policy decisions, even in unusual circumstances, such as the pandemic.