Nurses' Perceptions on How Recovery-Oriented Mental Health Care Can Be Developed and Implemented.

Aim: This study explored how nurses working in inpatient mental health units perceived the development and implementation of a recovery-oriented mental healthcare programme (ROMHCP). Background: The recovery-oriented mental healthcare approach (ROMHCA) in mental health is regarded as the future of mental health services and has been implemented in different countries worldwide. However, regarding developing and implementing the recovery approach, Africa appears to have been left behind by the rest of the continents. Design: The study used a qualitative approach to describe how a recovery-oriented mental healthcare approach could be developed. Methods: Thirty nurses who worked in Botswana's four inpatient mental health facilities consented and voluntarily participated in the study. Data were collected from February to mid-March 2022 through online focus group discussions and analysed using thematic analysis. The COREQ checklist was used to report the findings. Results: Two main themes emerged as follows: (i) developing and implementing a recovery-oriented mental healthcare programme is possible and (ii) certain elements are required to develop and implement ROMHCP. Conclusion: The participants believed that people diagnosed with mental illness could recover from the illness and suggested how it could be achieved. They also contended that the programme's success would lie mainly with multisectoral support from policymakers, facilities, hospital personnel, patients, and the community. Clinical Relevance. ROMHCP has the potential to benefit people with mental illness in the country. In addition, it would allow nurses to improve their knowledge and skills in managing mental illnesses. Patient or Public Contribution. The patients and the general public did not contribute to the study's concept, design, and outcomes. However, the nurses working in mental health facilities volunteered to participate in the study.

Psychological impact of COVID-19 on nurses caring for patients during COVID-19 pandemic in Gaborone.

AIM: Nurses as front liners have direct contact with COVID-19 patients during the pandemic. Carrying the heavy burden during the pandemic has a mental health toll on healthcare professionals. The study explored nurses' experiences of psychological distress during the COVID-19 pandemic in Botswana's two COVID-19 special care centres. DESIGN: The study used qualitative case study research to solicit nurses' experiences caring for patients with COVID-19 in selected COVID-19 centres in Gaborone. METHOD: Researchers purposively recruited nurses from two COVID-19 centres in Botswana. Data were collected using semi-structured telephone interviews and analysed through inductive thematic analysis. Various institutional review boards ethically cleared the study. RESULTS: Six themes emerged from the thematic analysis: feelings of fear and anxiety, hopelessness and helplessness, loneliness, physical distress, support mechanism and commitment to care. PUBLIC CONTRIBUTION: The results offer important insights into the nurses' experiences during the COVI-19 pandemic.

Nurses and COVID-19 response in Botswana.

INTRODUCTION: The advent of the COVID-19 pandemic necessitated the Botswana Presidential Task Force, in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and Wellness (MoHW), to devise strategies to utilize the already overburdened health personnel to combat the spread of the coronavirus. This descriptive case study aimed to describe nurses' role during COVID-19 in Botswana. DESIGN AND METHODS: A case study analysis was used to describe nurses' roles during COVID-19. Data were collected through observing events in various health facilities and various media platforms that described how nurses had to position themselves to combat the pandemic. Content analysis was done by coding and developing categories that put like content together and generate thematic areas. RESULTS: Nurses from different sectors were redeployed to assist in setting up different units at the COVID-19 makeshift hospital, taking away from the already understaffed section of health care workers resulting in the overburden and work overload. Furthermore, nurses continued with their regular day-to-day nursing care duties in various healthcare settings, albeit under a severe shortage due to the national response to COVID-19. CONCLUSION: Adaptations and experiential strategies enabled the distribution of the nursing workforce to cover all locations to curb the spread of COVID-19 despite the challenges encountered. Recommendations and lessons learned on how to prepare for future pandemics are also discussed. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Due to their large numbers, nurses formed the backbone of the Botswana COVID-19 response strategy. Therefore, policy-makers should be responsive to the nurses' perspectives when developing strategic policies on how to deal with pandemics based on their experiences.