No Backstage: The Relentless Emotional Management of Acute Nursing Through the COVID-19 Pandemic.
Aileen Grant, Rosaleen O'Brien, Flora Douglas and 3 others
PMID 39445701WHAT IT FOUND
Nurses in acute settings reported high emotional strain and poor well-being during the pandemic.
Infection control measures like PPE and social distancing blocked their usual coping strategies, such as collegial support and face-to-face communication, leading to isolation and moral distress.
Key findings
01Survey respondents had lower mental well-being scores than the general Scottish population, with 45% reporting probable or possible depression.
02PPE and infection control measures inhibited communication with patients, particularly those with hearing, language, or cognitive difficulties, and interfered with expressing empathy.
03Social distancing and reorganisation of care removed opportunities for nurses to use their usual coping strategies, such as collegial support and physical contact, leading to isolation.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for RNs
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What it does not show
The study was conducted in a single health board in Scotland, limiting generalisability. Participants were self-selecting, which may have overrepresented those with higher levels of distress. The sample was predominantly female and white, limiting insights into other demographic groups. Interviews were conducted via Microsoft Teams, which may have affected the depth of qualitative data.
Declared interests
The authors declare no conflicts of interest.
The easy way to misread this
Do not interpret the high rates of reported depression and stress as a causal link to specific clinical outcomes or as evidence that a particular intervention works. This is a descriptive study of nurses' experiences and well-being scores during a specific crisis period, not an experimental trial.