Nurses' experiences in response to COVID-19 in a psychiatric ward in Singapore.

ABSTRACT

AIM: To understand nurses' responses to COVID-19 and identify their uptake of changes in the procedure required for the management of COVID-19 in an inpatient psychiatric ward. BACKGROUND: The infection risk for COVID-19 in an enclosed inpatient psychiatric ward is high due to living arrangements in the ward and the nature of the infectious disease. INTRODUCTION: This paper describes inpatient nurses' experiences, challenges and strategies deployed at the institutional and national levels to contain the spread of infection. METHODS: Written feedback was collected to understand nurses' responses and identify their uptake of changes in procedure following the COVID-19 outbreak in the ward. FINDINGS: Nurses felt shocked, worried, isolated, expressed a lack of confidence, and experienced physical exhaustion. COVID-19 specific challenges were highlighted in the delivery of safe and quality nursing care. Nurses were satisfied with the hospital policy and strategies implemented during the outbreak, acknowledging the importance of support from nursing leaders. DISCUSSION: Practical support and strong nursing leadership have been imperative in the battle against the COVID-19 outbreak in the psychiatric hospital. Psychiatric nursing care was maintained with a modified management and treatment approach. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING PRACTICE Nurses' willingness to adjust to the reconfiguration of operations to accommodate changes has been crucial for the healthcare system to run effectively. Good practices and policies established during this crisis should be developed and established permanently in nursing practice. IMPLICATIONS FOR HEALTH POLICY Prompt and effective contingency planning and policymaking at the national and institutional level, targeting human resource management and infection control, can introduce changes and alternative options for nursing care in a pandemic. CONCLUSION: With support from influential nursing leaders, strategies and policies are imperative in ensuring the successful management of COVID situations in an inpatient psychiatric setting.