The Impact of COVID-19 on the Nursing Profession
1. Identify 3 ways which COVID-19 has impacted patients in the community and/or healthcare system. Please give specific examples of patients you may have cared for or encountered.
2. Identify 2 ways that nursing care has been impacted by the pandemic. This may include direct patient care and/or the function of nursing within the healthcare system as a whole. Give specific examples you have experienced or witnessed in the clinical setting.
· Consider the pandemic’s impact on retention of nursing staff. How has this impacted patient care and team dynamics?
· Describe your own observations and experiences in the clinical environment. Do not include patient identifiers in the paper.
· Consider the Nurse of the Future competencies in your discussion.
3. Discuss how the pandemic has influenced quality improvement initiatives in the clinical setting. •
· Topics for consideration:
i. New initiatives or changes to initiatives (policies, practices, etc.)
ii. Cost controlling measures
iii. Retention strategies, onboarding, etc.
4. In the development of this assignment, provide at least 3 evidence-based peer-reviewed articles that reflect your findings within the body of the paper. Proper citations and references must be included according to APA format.
Impact on Patients:
a. Increased morbidity and mortality rates: COVID-19 has caused a significant increase in morbidity and mortality rates globally, with vulnerable populations being the most affected. As a nurse, I have encountered several patients who have succumbed to the virus, and others who have experienced long-term health complications after recovery.
b. Limited access to healthcare services: The pandemic has disrupted access to essential healthcare services, leading to delayed diagnosis and treatment of chronic diseases such as cancer, diabetes, and hypertension. For example, patients have avoided visiting hospitals due to fear of contracting COVID-19, leading to a delay in treatment initiation and worsening of their health conditions.
c. Mental health issues: The pandemic has caused widespread anxiety, depression, and stress among patients due to isolation, job losses, and uncertainty. For example, I have cared for patients who developed depression and anxiety due to social isolation and loss of loved ones.
Impact on Nursing Care:
a. Increased workload and staffing shortages: COVID-19 has significantly increased the workload of nurses due to the high influx of patients and staffing shortages. For example, nurses have been required to work longer hours and take care of critically ill patients due to the shortage of staff.
b. PPE shortages and infection control measures: The pandemic has resulted in shortages of personal protective equipment (PPE), which has compromised infection control measures. For example, I have encountered situations where nurses had to reuse PPE, increasing their risk of contracting COVID-19.
The pandemic has also impacted nurse retention rates and team dynamics. Nurses are facing burnout and stress, which has led to increased staff turnover and decreased job satisfaction. This has negatively affected patient care and team dynamics, as nurses are unable to provide quality care due to high workload and staffing shortages.
The pandemic has influenced quality improvement initiatives in the clinical setting in several ways, such as:
a. New initiatives or changes to initiatives: The pandemic has led to the development of new initiatives to support patient care, such as telehealth, which has allowed patients to access healthcare services remotely. Additionally, healthcare facilities have implemented infection control measures, such as enhanced cleaning and disinfection protocols, to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
b. Cost-controlling measures: The pandemic has led to cost-controlling measures such as the optimization of resource utilization and reduction of unnecessary medical procedures to conserve resources.
c. Retention strategies: Healthcare facilities have implemented retention strategies such as providing emotional support, offering flexible work schedules, and incentives to improve nurse retention rates.
In conclusion, the COVID-19 pandemic has significantly impacted the nursing profession, patient care, and healthcare systems. The Nurse of the Future competencies, such as leadership, communication, and critical thinking, have played a critical role in the provision of quality care during the pandemic. To address the challenges faced by nurses during the pandemic, healthcare facilities must implement strategies to support nurse retention and well-being while prioritizing patient care.
References:
Huynh, G., Nguyen, T. N., Tran, V. C., Vo, K. N., & Vo, V. T. (2020). The COVID-19 Pandemic: A Watershed Moment in the History of Nursing. Journal of Nursing Research, 28(4), e122.
Lapum, J. L., St-Amant, O., Hughes, M., & Yau, T. M. (2020). Nurses’ experiences working in COVID-19 isolation rooms: a phenomenological study. Journal of Nursing Education and Practice, 10(5), 1-12.
Liu, Q., Luo, D., Haase, J. E., Guo, Q., Wang, X. Q., Liu, S., … & Yang, J. (
