The lived experiences of critical care nurses during the COVID-19 pandemic. A qualitative systematic review.

OBJECTIVES: To critically synthesis the qualitative literature to understand the experiences of critical care nurses during the COVID-19 pandemic. RESEARCH METHODOLOGY: A meta-aggregation systematic review was reported according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Relevant online databases were searched using a wide range of keywords and subject headings. All qualitative studies were included to understand the lived experiences of critical care nurses in the intensive care unit during the COVID-19 pandemic. All studies were screened using a pre-eligibility screening criteria by three reviewers. The Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) Critical Appraisal Checklist for Qualitative Research was used to provide methodological appraisal. The JBI method of meta-aggregation was used to extract, synthesize, and categorise the data. FINDINGS: 17 publications met the inclusion criteria. 136 individual findings were extracted, which were synthesised into 18 categories and eight synthesised findings. The eight synthesised findings included,1) Working as a team to adapt to the challenges of the pandemic, 2) Striving to provide patient centred care, 3) Coping with frequent deaths in the intensive care unit, 4) Challenges of supporting patients family from a distance, 5) The psychological impact of caring for critically unwell patients with COVID-19, 6) Working through the challenges of the intensive care unit setting during the pandemic, 7) The challenges of wearing personal protective equipment while undertaking patient care, 8) The impact of working in the intensive care unit during the pandemic on life at home.. CONCLUSION: This qualitative systematic review has given new insight into the lived experiences of critical care nurses. There were significant psychological and physical impacts on critical care nurses working during the COVID-19 pandemic. Therefore, improving psychological support, maintaining adequate staffing levels/skill mix to ensure basic nursing care can be completed, and the attendance of leadership/management staff is essential to ensure the retention of critical care nurses and achieve optimal patient outcomes. IMPLICATIONS FOR CLINICAL PRACTICE: This review has highlighted implications for staff retention (counselling, skills development, contingency staffing), the need for improved management/leadership strategies and human resource policies to support critical care nurses when hospitals are in crisis. Additionally, the presence and needs of the family members of critically unwell patients' needs to be prioritised in the intensive care unit.

How Does Health-Related Quality of Life Change Over Time in Cancer Survivors Following an Admission to the Intensive Care Unit?: An Integrative Review.

BACKGROUND: Cancer survivors account for 15% to 20% of all intensive care unit (ICU) admissions. In general ICU populations, patients are known to experience reduced health-related quality of life (HRQoL). However, little is known about HRQoL impacts among cancer survivors following a critical illness in ICU. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to critically synthesize the evidence to further understand the impact of a critical illness and ICU admission in cancer survivors. METHODS: An integrative review was conducted and reported according to the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analysis) guidelines. Three electronic databases were searched (MEDLINE, CINAHL, and EMBASE) using keywords and Boolean logic. Quality appraisal, data extraction, and a narrative synthesis were completed for all included studies by 2 reviewers. RESULTS: Eleven publications met inclusion criteria. Health-related quality-of-life domains most frequently reported in cancer survivors after discharge from ICU included the following: physical function limitations, physical symptoms, and anxiety/depression. CONCLUSIONS: Health-related quality of life decreased immediately after the admission to ICU with a gradual increase in the 3 to 12 months following. Cancer survivors are vulnerable to physical limitations, pain, and social isolation after an admission to ICU. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: Cancer survivors who have been affected by a critical illness are at risk of reduced HRQoL after an admission to ICU. This integrative review will help clinicians and researchers to develop patient-centered models of care during the recovery of critical illness, which are currently lacking in service delivery.