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

Rebecca J Jarden; Aaron J Jarden; Tracey J Weiland; Glenn Taylor; Naomi Brockenshire; Michelle Rutherford; Catherine Carbery; Kate Moroney; Marie F Gerdtz

doi:10.1016/j.colegn.2021.06.002

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

Collegian. 2021 Dec;28(6):709-719. doi: 10.1016/j.colegn.2021.06.002. Epub 2021 Jun 15.

Authors

Rebecca J Jarden¹, Aaron J Jarden², Tracey J Weiland³, Glenn Taylor⁴, Naomi Brockenshire⁵, Michelle Rutherford⁶, Catherine Carbery⁷, Kate Moroney⁸, Marie F Gerdtz¹

Affiliations

¹ Department of Nursing, Melbourne School of Health Sciences, The University of Melbourne, 161 Barry Street, Carlton, Vic, 3053, Australia.
² Centre for Wellbeing Science, Melbourne Graduate School of Education, The University of Melbourne, Kwong Lee Dow Building, 234 Queensberry Street, Parkville, Melbourne, Vic, 3053, Australia.
³ Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, The University of Melbourne, 207 Bouverie Street, Carlton, Melbourne, Vic, 3053, Australia.
⁴ Nursing and Midwifery Health Program, Richmond, Vic, Australia.
⁵ Department of Nursing, Melbourne School of Health Sciences, The University of Melbourne, 161 Barry Street, Carlton, Melbourne, Vic, 3053, Australia.
⁶ Eastern Health, 5 Arnold Street, Box Hill, Melbourne, Vic, Australia.
⁷ Melbourne Health, 300 Grattan Street, Parkville Vic, 3050, Australia.
⁸ Goulburn Valley Health, Graham Street, Shepparton, Vic, Australia.

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.