Risks versus Responsibilities: Critical Care Nurses Experiences’ during Their Work with Suspected or Diagnosed COVID – 19 Patients | ||||
| Egyptian Journal of Health Care | ||||
| Article 25, Volume 11, Issue 4, December 2020, Page 444-459 | ||||
| Document Type: Original Article | ||||
| DOI: 10.21608/ejhc.2020.133917 | ||||
 View on SCiNiTO | ||||
| Author | ||||
| Amina Hemida Salem | ||||
| Critical Care & Emergency Nursing Department, Faculty of Nursing, University of Alexandria | ||||
| Abstract | ||||
| Background: Critical care nurses are exposed to serious risk and even death while administering care for patients with COVID-19 as they are exposed to aerosol generating procedures and longer periods of patient contact. According to the American Nursing Association (ANA), “Risk exceeding the limits of duty is not ethically obligatory; it is a moral option and nurses should carefully balance between their professional job responsibilities and risks.” Despite the fact that nurses have a professional obligation to care for critically ill patients with diagnosed or suspected COVID - 19, many nurses experience conflicts and stressors such as fear and anxiety about the risk of being infected and transmitting the infection to their family members and other contacts. Exploring the experiences that nurses’ face during their battle with the crisis will support them and help in developing protocols and plans to improve their preparedness (ANA, 2015a &b; Al Thobaity et al., 2020). Therefore, this study aimed to explore the critical care nurses’ experiences during their work with diagnosed or suspected COVID – 19 patients. Methods: a descriptive –a cross-sectional design was used to conduct the current study. Sample: a convenient sample of 80 critical care nurses who worked in the critical care units at the Main University Hospital and agreed to participate in the study were recruited. The tool was developed by the researcher based on reviewing of both quantitative and qualitative studies published during 2019 and 2020 to bring the critical care nurses’ experiences together. Nurses’ experiences were identified, analyzed, tabulated, and categorized into six main themes. Results: analysis of the lived experiences faced the critical care nurses during their working with suspected or COVID – 19 patients revealed that for the first theme, the statements "I am afraid of becoming infected and infecting others)" and “There is a shortage of staff” were reported as agree and strongly agree by about all of the nurses. Regarding the second theme, a sense of obligation toward their profession and saving the patients’ lives were agreed by the majority of the nurses. Moreover, near of the three – a quarter of the nurses claimed the continuous availability of an adequate amount of personal protective equipment” however, the majority of the nurses had confidence in the government. They agreed that "the government has strong prevention and control measures and that epidemic will be controlled very soon” (theme 3). As regard theme (4), the majority of nurses was appreciated the physical and psychological support received from the colleagues, families, and donations provided by the companies, however, they claimed the hospital, Original Article Egyptian Journal of Health Care, 2020 EJHC Vol.11 No.4 445 syndicate, and the media due to the inadequate support and motivation. Concerning coping strategies to alleviate moral distress (Theme 5), the result revealed that the majority of the nurses were used positive coping strategies such as attending webinars to enhance their knowledge about COVID – 19 & followed the safety guidelines. Finally, all nurses perceived that the crisis makes them stronger and nothing will beat them (Theme 6). Conclusions: risks versus responsibilities were highlighted in this study. The nurses were experienced risks that potentiated a feeling of a conflict. A conflict was raised between the nurses’ obligation to protect their family members (especially their children) from transmission infection and their obligations towards the job responsibilities (saving of the patients’ lives). Shortage in the nursing staff, medical supplies, especially the personnel protective equipment, inadequate support provided by administrative nursing bodies, and sometimes, the media were also claimed by the majority of nurses. However, they appreciated the support provided by their colleagues and families and they were having confidence regarding the infection control strategies used by the infection control units and the ability of the government to control the crisis very soon. | ||||
| Keywords | ||||
| Nurses’ Responsibilities; Critical Care Nurses Experiences; COVID - 19 | ||||
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