Challenges for exercising health advocacy to hospitalized children during the COVID-19 pandemic

Objective: To analyze the challenges for exercising health advocacy to hospitalized children during the COVID-19 pandemic.Methods: This is an online descriptive-exploratory qualitative study. Participants were 28 nursing professionals enrolled in the subject Nursing in Health Care for Children and Adolescents in a graduate program at a federal university in northeastern Brazil. Data collection took place in June 2021 through a conversation wheel and press conference. As instruments, we used Google forms and a semi-structured script. The study was approved by the Research Ethics Committee. As an analysis method, Discursive Textual Analysis (DTA) was used. For data organization, Atlas.ti 8.4.15 software (Qualitative Research and Solutions) was used.Results: Two categories emerged: 1) Impacts of the pandemic on pediatric care and advocacy: child isolation and a health care scenario where children were placed in the background were observed. 2) Existing barriers that worsened with the health crisis: work overload, precarious structure and difficulty in working conditions were identified, which led to violations of children's rights and aggravated the overview of difficulties in the provision of pediatric services.Conclusion: The challenges for exercising health advocacy for hospitalized children during the pandemic, evidenced by the impacts and barriers to care, have expanded health teams' work, making the exercise of advocacy in pediatric care even more difficult. It is necessary to rethink and adjust access and care policies after the pandemic to ensure that child care is not restricted.

Incident notification and patient safety in times of a pandemic

Objective: To review notification of incidents that occurred during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: This is a cross-sectional, exploratory descriptive quantitative study. A total of 1,466 notifications to risk management of a private hospital were analyzed from September 2020 to September 2021. Descriptive statistical analysis was used, applying Pearson's chi-square test or the likelihood ratio test. The margin of error used was 5%. Results: Communication failure (358 -24.5%), probe and catheter use failure (232 -15.9%) and article and equipment use failure (132 -9.1%) were identified as prevalent incidents. The notifiable circumstance totaled 55.9% of reports, and, of these, 33.4% were communication failure. Adverse events were 416 (28.6%), and fall was related to mild damage (43.9%), health care-associated infections, to moderate harm (31%), and medication use failure (50%), to severe harm and death. Conclusion: Communication failure was the most reported risk circumstance, followed by medication use failure as an adverse event with severe harm. The nursing unit showed the possibility of a greater number of adverse events, while in Intensive Care Units, the degree of harm from adverse events was higher.

Homeless population and COVID-19: Reflections in light of nursing theories

Background: COVID-19 is an acute respiratory illness caused by a novel human coronavirus. Due to the accelerated spread of the virus, health authorities have advocated social distancing. Homeless people have difficulties meeting this requirement due to a lack of access to fundamental rights such as housing, education, and health. The epistemological bases of nursing theories contribute to under-pinning the care provided to these people. Objective: To reflect on the health care of the homeless population during the COVID-19 pandemic in light of five nursing theories. Main topics under analysis: The theories of Nightingale, Roy, Horta, Peplau, and Henderson have care approaches focused on the basic needs of homeless people who require immediate interventions due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Conclusion: Nursing theories provide scientific support to caring for the homeless population based on physical, biological, and social aspects through intersectoral partnerships that can promote care during and after the pandemic. © 2022, Escola Superior de Enfermagem de Coimbra. All rights reserved.

Linking worker safety to patient safety: Recommendations and bioethical issues for the care of patients in the covid-19 pandemic

Objective: the aim of this article is to discuss the implications of the connection between safety and bioethical issues for evidence-based care during the COVID-19 pandemic. Method: reflective analysis with the guiding question: “How can professional and patient safety be linked to bioethical issues during the COVID-19 pandemic?” Results: the COVID-19 pandemic has challenged countries around the world, mainly due to the collapse of the health system that could threaten the safety of patients and healthcare providers. Connecting worker safety to patient safety is imperative for safe care during the COVID-19 pandemic. Aspects related to professional qualification and the provision and proper use of personal protective equipment permeate an environment of economic and political crisis that accentuates tensions and can interfere in decision-making, greatly affecting the results of the care provided. This article presents reflections and recommendations to support healthcare providers in making decisions that involve bioethical issues during the care process in times of scarce resources generated by the COVID-19 pandemic. © 2021, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina. All rights reserved.