Caring through barriers—Newly graduated registered nurses' lived experiences in emergency departments during the COVID-19 pandemic

Aim - To illuminate the meaning of newly graduated registered nurses' experiences of caring for patients in emergency departments during the COVID-19 pandemic. Design - A phenomenological hermeneutical study guided by Lindseth and Norberg. Methods - In-depth one-on-one interviews with 14 nurses from five hospitals were conducted from March to November 2020 and analysed using thematic analysis. The consolidated criteria for reporting qualitative research (COREQ) were used as the reporting guideline. Results - The findings comprise one main theme Caring through barriers and three themes with sub-themes. In the first theme, having intention to care, participants revealed their dedication to care for patients during the pandemic despite extensive stress, little experience and skills. The second theme, with tied hands in human suffering, illuminates experiences of being disconnected from the patient, overwhelmed by responsibility and unable to relieve suffering. The third theme, feeling inadequate, reveals experiences of lack of support and doubts meaning less space to develop into the nurse one wants to be. Conclusion - Findings reveal a new understanding of new nurses' experiences during times of crisis. The essence of caring in the emergency department during the pandemic can be explained as mediated through spatial, temporal and emotional barriers preventing new nurses from providing holistic care. Impact - The results may be used as anticipatory guidance for new nurses and inform targeted support interventions to support new nurses entering the profession in crisis conditions. Public Contribution - This study involved new nurses in semi-structured interviews

Caring approach for patients with chest pain : Swedish registered nurses’ lived experiences in Emergency Medical Services

Purpose: Encountering patients with chest pain is common for Registered Nurses (RNs) in Emergency Medical Services (EMS) who are responsible for the patient’s medical and nursing care . From a lifeworld perspective, bodily illness is related to existential suffering, requiring knowledge to asses the situation from a holistic perspective . The aim of this study is to describe the caring approach when RNs encounter patients with chest pain. Methods: A phenomenological methodology to capture RNs’ lived experiences was chosen. Seven qualitative in-depth interviews were conducted at three ambulance stations in Sweden. Results: The essence of the caring approach while encountering patients with chest pain comprises two constituents; “trust based on confidence and competence” and “the collegial striving towards the best possible care”. Trust is two-parted; trust in oneself, and striving towards gaining the patient’s trust . Competence and experience when combined, develop into confidence especially in stressful situations. The caring approach is nurtured in a well-functioning collegial team. Conclusions: This study contributes to understanding the caring approach based on the specific patient’s lifeworld in holistic EMS care. By trusting oneself, the patient, and one’s colleague, RNs in EMS shift focus from medical-orientated care to a holistic lifeworld caring approach. More research is needed on trust as a phenomenon in EMS, both from caregivers’ and patients’ perspectives

Battling extraordinary situations and conflicting emotions—A qualitative study of being a newly graduated Registered Nurse in the emergency department during the COVID-19 pandemic

Aim: To describe newly graduated registered nurses’ (NGRNs’) experiences of encountering stress in emergency departments (EDs) during the COVID-19 pandemic. Design: A qualitative descriptive study. Methods: Data from 14 in-depth interviews with NGRNs working in an ED for 3-36 months after graduation was analysed by the means of qualitative content analysis as described by Graneheim and Lundman. Interviews were conducted from March to November 2020 covering the first two waves of the pandemic. Results: Data revealed three categories and nine subcategories comprised in the theme Battling extraordinary situations and conflicting emotions. Empowered by acknowledging themselves as important caregivers during the pandemic NGRNs struggle against limitations and exert themselves beyond their known limit. External stressors due to work overload in combination with understaffing force NGRNs into the role of the experienced nurse prematurely and internal stressors derives from part taking in less qualitative care