Posted: March 2nd, 2023

Identify 3 ways which COVID-19 has impacted patients

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: COVID-19 has resulted in increased morbidity and mortality rates among patients, especially those with comorbidities such as hypertension, diabetes, and heart disease. For instance, a 65-year-old patient with diabetes and hypertension who contracted COVID-19 and required hospitalization was at increased risk of complications such as acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), septic shock, and multiple organ failure.
b) Mental Health: Patients have also experienced psychological distress due to the pandemic. For example, a patient who tested positive for COVID-19 and was hospitalized experienced anxiety and depression due to isolation, fear of dying, and separation from family and loved ones.
c) Delayed Care: Many patients have delayed or missed medical care due to the pandemic, which may result in worsening of their health status. For instance, a patient with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) may have delayed seeking medical care for exacerbation symptoms due to fear of contracting COVID-19 in the hospital.

Impact on Nursing Care:
a) Increased workload and burnout: The pandemic has resulted in increased workload and burnout among nurses due to the increased patient load, shortage of staff, and increased acuity of patients. For example, nurses may have to work long hours, take on extra shifts, and care for critically ill patients without adequate resources.
b) Change in Nursing Role: The pandemic has also resulted in a change in the nursing role, with nurses taking on more responsibilities such as monitoring and managing patients’ respiratory status, administering medications, and providing emotional support to patients and families. For example, a nurse caring for a patient with COVID-19 may have to administer oxygen therapy, perform chest physiotherapy, and monitor the patient’s oxygen saturation levels.

Retention of nursing staff has been significantly impacted by the pandemic. Nurses have been leaving the profession due to burnout, fear of exposure to the virus, and inadequate support from management. This has resulted in increased workload and decreased quality of care, as the remaining nurses have to take on extra responsibilities. Team dynamics have also been impacted, as nurses may feel unsupported and undervalued, leading to low morale and decreased job satisfaction.

Influence on Quality Improvement Initiatives:
The pandemic has led to new quality improvement initiatives in the clinical setting, such as the implementation of infection control measures and the use of telehealth services. Policies and procedures have been updated to reflect the changing circumstances, such as the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) and the management of COVID-19 patients. Cost-controlling measures have also been implemented, such as the reduction of unnecessary procedures and the implementation of resource utilization programs.
Retention strategies have been implemented to support nursing staff during the pandemic, such as providing adequate PPE, offering emotional support and counseling services, and providing training and education on infection control measures. Onboarding of new nursing staff has also been impacted, as orientation programs may have been shortened or changed to virtual formats.

References:

American Nurses Association. (2020). COVID-19: ethical considerations for nurses. https://www.nursingworld.org/~4af7bd/globalassets/coronavirus/covid-19-ethical-considerations-for-nurses.pdf

Dzau, V. J., Kirch, D., & Nasca, T. (2020). Preventing a parallel pandemic – a national strategy to protect clinicians’ well-being. New England Journal of Medicine, 383(6), 513-515. doi: 10.1056/nejmp2011027

World Health Organization. (2020). Nursing and midwifery: a critical workforce for the COVID-19 response. https://www.who.int/publications/i/item

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