A Phenomenological Study of COVID-19's Impact on U.S. Nursing Personnel.

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic overwhelmed the New York City area upon its arrival in the United States. Hospitals were unprepared to handle the influx of patients. METHODS: This study explored nurse/nurse practitioner experiences when caring for COVID-19 patients in New York metropolitan hospitals, concentrating on physical well-being. Data collection involved in-depth interviews with eight participants. FINDINGS: (A) physical safety of self, family members, colleagues, and patients greatly concerned participants; (B) caring for COVID-19 patients led to participants' physical exhaustion; and (C) most participants' sleep was impacted when caring for COVID-19 patients. CONCLUSIONS: This study identified issues involving U.S. health care workplace safety during the COVID-19 pandemic, namely availability of personal protective equipment, lack of centralized knowledge-sharing capabilities, sleep problems, anxiety regarding physical safety of self and others, and insufficient/undertrained staffing. It serves as a foundation for future research and calls for changes in U.S. hospital policies and procedures during crises.

Phenomenology for the Holistic Nurse Researcher: Underpinnings of Descriptive and Interpretive Traditions.

Phenomenological research is increasing in popularity in nursing research for good reason. The qualitative research method allows an in-depth exploration of patient lived experience. This knowledge has the potential to enhance quality of holistic patient care. To undertake this method of inquiry, however, it is imperative that holistic nurse researchers understand the philosophical underpinnings of the method and are familiar with the two major types of phenomenology in order to approach the study in a scholarly manner. The purpose of this article is to explicate the method's historical roots of phenomenology, its evolution, its two major traditions and their differences, and some of the specialized terminology unique to phenomenology's jargon so that their studies can contribute to sound nursing science and complete patient care.

Maternal Mortality & Injustice: A Closer Look.

The incidence of maternal mortality rates (MMRs) is grossly higher in developing countries than in wealthier regions. Multiple factors are involved in the MMR. Much of the attention to lower deaths was given to biomedical causes. However, socioeconomic, healthcare availability, and cultural issues often impede a woman's chance of healthy maternal outcomes. Most maternal deaths are preventable. This article discusses the injustices that occur as a result of global maternal health disparities, and highlights organizations that are working to end preventable maternal deaths.