Cancer nurses have experienced ‘moral injury' due to the pandemic

First, a Happy New Year to you all. I hope you enjoyed the festive break. In this issue, our cover article (evidence and practice, page 21) explains how emotional labour can lead to exhaustion and burnout, which contributes to a high turnover in the nursing workforce. It examines the differences in resilience and coping strategies of less experienced nurses compared with their more experienced counterparts.

After pandemic restrictions end, nurses will need to hit the reset button

After several months of dealing with the enormous challenges of COVID-19, we may now see the proverbial light at the end of the tunnel. Social restrictions are easing and, although further lockdowns and restrictions are not out of the question, the main task ahead of us is to patch up gaps in service provision caused by the pandemic.

COVID-19 may prompt us to reassess our work-life balance

Earlier this year I reported feeling optimistic that, despite the challenges with the pandemic ahead, there was light at the end of the tunnel. Thanks to the large-scale dissemination of the COVID-19 vaccine, we are already starting to see the emergence of some brighter days. But there is still a lot to do during the vaccine rollout, including addressing patient and staff concerns about being vaccinated.

Welcome to the new normal

The author reflects on the seeming greater recognition for the work of nurses and of the National Health Service (NHS) and its staff in Great Britain during the coronavirus pandemic when she returned to work as of September 2020.