Nursing strategic pillars to enhance nursing preparedness and response to COVID-19 pandemic at a tertiary care hospital in Saudi Arabia.

BACKGROUND: COVID-19 pandemic caused enormous implications on the frontline staff. The objective was to share our nursing experience in responding to COVID-19 pandemic at a large hospital and its impact on nursing safety and healthcare services. METHODS: Six nursing strategic pillars were implemented. Pillar 1: establishing corona command centre. Pillar 2: limiting exposure by virtual care model, strict infection control measures, altered patient flow, active surveillance, and contact tracing. Pillar 3: maintaining sufficient supplies of personal protective equipment. Pillar 4: creating surge capacity by establishing dedicated COVID-19 units and increasing critical care beds. Pillar 5: training and redeployment of nurses and implementing alternate staffing models. Pillar 6: monitoring staff wellbeing, establishing mental health support hotline and clinic, providing hotel self-quarantine, and financial incentives. RESULTS: Out of 5483 nurses, 543 (10%) were trained for redeployment, mainly at acute and intensive care units. After serving 11,623 infected patient including 1646 hospitalizations during the first 9 months of the pandemic, only 385 (7.0%) nurses were infected with COVID-19. Out of them, only 10 (2.6%) required hospitalization, one (0.3%) required ICU admission, and none died. Although the number of patients hospitalized at our hospital during the current pandemic was 17 folds higher than the 2015 outbreak of middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus, the hospital administration did not have to close the hospital as they did in 2015. CONCLUSIONS: Proactive nursing leadership and implementation of multiple nursing pillars enabled the facility to maintain the safety of nursing workforce while serving large influx of COVID-19 patients.

Midwifery and Nursing Strategies to protect against COVID-19 During the Third Trimester of Pregnancy.

OBJECTIVE: The rapid pace of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic (COVID-19) presents significant challenges to midwives and nurses. This study aimed to explore midwifery and nursing interventions to limit the transmission of COVID-19 among women in their third trimester of pregnancy, to reduce the incidence of nosocomial infection and promote safety of care for women and their infants. METHOD: We completed a retrospective review of medical records from 35 women in their third trimester of pregnancy with SARS-CoV-2, admitted to one hospital in Wuhan, China in January and February 2020. We investigated the clinical characteristics of the COVID-19 infection in pregnancy, and the individualized midwifery and nursing care offered, including environmental protection, prevention of nosocomial infection, maternal observations, monitoring of signs and symptoms of COVID-19, and psychological care. RESULT: Thirty-one women had a caesarean section, and four had vaginal births. Retrospective analysis of midwifery and nursing strategies implemented to care for these women showed no maternal complications or nosocomial infections. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: The care strategies we implemented could prevent complications and nosocomial infection in the third trimester of pregnancy, thus ensuring the safety of women and their infants. Further research needs to determine treatment priorities for women infected with COVID-19 during pregnancy and the postnatal period.

Nursing perspectives and strategies in patients with respiratory insufficiency.

BACKGROUND: Approximately 30% of patients admitted to an intensive care unit experience respiratory distress. The COVID-19 pandemic has led to an enormous increase in patients with respiratory symptoms. Nurse competence is essential for ensuring quality treatment and care for these patients; however, research on nursing strategies for patients with respiratory insufficiency is limited. AIM: This study explored nurses' perspectives on and nursing strategies in patients with respiratory insufficiency when admitted to three different intensive care units. DESIGN: The study had an exploratory, descriptive, qualitative design. METHODS: Four focus group interviews with a total of 20 nurses, critical care nurses, and critical care nursing students were conducted. Data were analysed using content analysis. RESULTS: Participants' perspectives fell into two main themes: "nurse competence" and "the art of balancing." "Nurse competence" incorporated the sub-themes "observations and assessments," "to make decisions," and "collaboration." The theme 'the art of balancing' incorporated the sub-themes "nursing interventions," "patients feeling safe," and "patient participation." CONCLUSION: This study contributes new knowledge about nurses' perspectives on patients with respiratory insufficiency. Nurse competence was assumed essential to observe, assess, and treat patients with respiratory insufficiency. Nursing strategies included balancing nursing interventions, conducting medical treatment, and taking a whole-person approach to patients' needs. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: The COVID-19 pandemic has shown the need for nurse competence in caring for patients with respiratory insufficiency. This study adds to existing literature emphasizing the need for competence in health care services. Caring for patients with respiratory insufficiency requires nurses with experience; competence in observation, assessment, and medical treatment; and a whole-person approach to patients' needs.