Understanding Redeployment During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Qualitative Analysis of Nurse Reported Experiences.

Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted healthcare working conditions causing the redeployment of nurses. Redeployment refers to assigning healthcare workers to units or specialty areas where they do not regularly work. Objective: The purpose of this study was to explore the lived experiences of redeployed nurses during the COVID-19 pandemic from April 27, 2020 to May 7, 2020. Methods: Data collection occurred through a cross-sectional survey with demographic items and a single open-ended item. This open-ended item was part of a larger study regarding work conditions during the initial COVID-19 surge in the spring of 2020 in the Midwest United States (US). This analysis was performed separately due to the volume of qualitative responses and details provided. The survey was posted in private social media groups, and 298 nurses participated, 117 shared open-ended responses. Participants were asked what type of unit they worked on before COVID-19 and what unit they were deployed to. Findings: Twenty-three (19.7%) reported deployment to COVID-designated units. Twenty-eight (23.9%) participants reported deployment to a unit outside of their specialty. Sixteen (13.7%) reported deployment from a non-critical care unit to an intensive care unit. Three major themes developed from the open-ended responses: (1) challenges related to their scope of practice and specialization, (2) challenges with interpersonal dynamics, and (3) challenges related to the environment. Conclusion: The described challenges caused some nurses to report primarily negative experiences regarding redeployment during the COVID-19 pandemic. The findings add to the existing literature regarding redeployment and the vulnerability hospitals and their staff face during a disaster or pandemic-related events, such as COVID-19. Ultimately, aiding in the development of new policies to facilitate effective pandemic response in the future that would support nurses to participate in redeployment in a safe and nontraumatic way, is necessary.

Traumatic stress among frontline American nurses during the COVID-19 pandemic: A survey study

Nurses working on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic are at inherent risk of traumatic stress working in understaffed, poorly equipped, high acuity environments. Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) may develop following exposure to trauma or stress associated with depressive symptoms, flashbacks, and mood disturbance. The purpose of this study was to assess the prevalence of traumatic stress among American frontline nurses following the initial COVID-19 surge in the United States during March 2020 using the Trauma Screening Questionnaire. This cross-sectional survey study was distributed via social media in May 2021 following the initial COVID-19 surge. The (TSQ) was selected for its strong psychometric performance in previous studies and high clinical reliability in detecting those at risk for PTSD. Results: Out of the 298 acute care nurses practicing in the United States who participated in the survey, 58.7% had a positive score of greater than 6 indicating the risk of PTSD. Front line nurses who provided care during the initial COVID-19 surge reported high levels of traumatic stress and demonstrated the risk of developing PTSD as measured by the TSQ. Health systems that employ frontline nurses must increase screening for mental health ramifications during the global pandemic. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved)