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"Goodbye Through a Glass Door": Emotional Experiences of Working in COVID-19 Acute Care Hospital Environments #MMPMID33342299
Lapum J; Nguyen M; Fredericks S; Lai S; McShane J
Can J Nurs Res 2021[Mar]; 53 (1): 5-15 PMID33342299show ga
BACKGROUND: The severity of the COVID-19 health crisis has placed acute care nurses in dire work environments in which they have had to deal with uncertainty, loss, and death on a constant basis. It is necessary to gain a better understanding of nurses' experiences to develop interventions supportive of their emotional well-being. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to explore how nurses are emotionally affected working in COVID-19 acute care hospital environments. The research question is: What is the emotional experience of nurses working in COVID-19 acute care hospital environments? METHODS: We employed a narrative methodology that focused on participants' stories. Twenty registered nurses, who worked in six hospitals in the Greater Toronto Area in Canada, participated in interviews. A narrative analysis was conducted with a focus on content and form of stories. RESULTS: We identified three themes about working in COVID-19 acute care hospital environments: the emotional experience, the agency of emotions, and how emotions shape nursing and practice. CONCLUSION: In moving forth with pandemic preparations, healthcare leaders and governments need to make sure that a nurse's sacrifice is not all-encompassing. Supporting nurses' emotional well-being and resilience is necessary to counterbalance the loss and trauma nurses go through.