Elsevier

Collegian

Volume 28, Issue 6, December 2021, Pages 709-719
Collegian

Nurse wellbeing during the coronavirus (2019) pandemic: A qualitative descriptive study

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.colegn.2021.06.002Get rights and content

ABSTRACT

Background

The wellbeing of individuals influences organisational outcomes. Insight into nurses’ wellbeing is crucial to a sustaining a high-quality workforce.

Aim

To describe nurses’ perceptions and experiences of wellbeing, work wellbeing, and mental health.

Method

Using a qualitative descriptive design, semi-structured interviews were conducted, transcribed verbatim, analysed inductively and thematically, and reported per consolidated criteria for reporting qualitative research.

Findings

Nine Australian nurses were interviewed in 2020, each for 60 to 90 minutes. These nurses had a broad range of clinical roles and years of experience in metropolitan healthcare organisations. Six themes, each related to nurse wellbeing, depicted: (i) value and sense of purpose from nursing, yet also negative consequences of losing sight of oneself within the nursing role; (ii) work nurses did to disengage from their job and create a balance within their life; (iii) significance of the team and senior team as a source of both strength and opportunity for wellbeing; (iv) a range of wellbeing initiatives with a perception these were often developed, and for use, in response to crisis as opposed to preventative or proactive measures; (v) value of additional nurse wellbeing education and promotion of available support; and (vi) novel challenges and ways to wellbeing during times where resources were stretched and usual support systems impacted.

Discussion

Identified positive and negative consequences of nursing must be addressed when developing targeted wellbeing interventions.

Conclusion

New ways of working and supporting individual, team and organisational wellbeing are needed for flourishing working environments. Potential strategies to either leverage or mitigate the positive and negative consequences of nursing are offered.

Keywords

COVID-19
Experiences
Mental health
Nurses
Perceptions
Wellbeing
Work wellbeing

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