Hoogendoorn et al. (2021) aim to examine the different approaches used by ICU nurses to schedule shifts during the COVID-19 pandemic. The secondary goal was to describe the varying demands placed on ICU nurses caring for patients with COVID-19, pneumonia, and other conditions. Researchers intended to explore plausible explanations for the observed differences in Nursing activity scores across study groups.
Nursing staffing and workload were analyzed using the Nursing Activities Score for 3,994 patients throughout 36,827 shifts at six hospitals in the Netherlands (Hoogendoorn et al., 2021). Comparisons were made between COVID-19 period data (March 1, 2020–July 1, 2020) and non-COVID period data (March 1, 2019–July 1, 2019). (Hoogendoorn et al., 2021). The Chi-square test, the non-parametric Wilcoxon test, or the Student’s t-test were used to analyze the data and determine whether there were any significant differences (Hoogendoorn et al., 2021). Quantitative techniques are used to demonstrate analysis of the data, and the results are presented in a complete table style. The information and procedures used in this research were culled from the Dutch National Intensive Care Evaluation quality registry.
The Nursing Activities Score was used by the researchers as a means of assessing the intensity of the nursing workload in the intensive care unit. Totaling 23, the Nursing Activities Score measures the average amount of time spent on direct and indirect patient care in the intensive care unit (for things like cleanliness procedures, patient movement and positioning, maintenance of artificial airways, and administrative responsibilities) (Hoogendoorn et al., 2021). We have developed a cutoff of 100 points, which is equivalent to the time spent on the job by a single full-time nurse in a given shift (Hoogendoorn et al., 2021). Nursing Activities Score has been validated against time measures, and those data suggest that it accurately represents between 59 and 81% of the actual nursing time (Hoogendoorn et al., 2021, p.1). They provide the foundation for the implementation of this measurement approach, notwithstanding the constraints deriving from the subjective appraisal of responses by respondents.
Results showed that nursing care time shifted throughout the COVID-19 period. The Nursing Activities Score for each Intensive Care nurse was substantially higher (76.5% vs 50.0%, p0.001), and the number of patients cared for by each nurse was significantly higher (1.1 vs 1.0, p0.001) before the introduction of COVID (Hoogendoorn et al., 2021, p.1). When compared to patients with pneumonia (55.2 vs. 50.0, p0.001) and non-COPVID patients (55.2 vs 42.6, p0.001), patients with COVID-19 required more time for sanitary procedures, positioning, support and family, and respiratory treatment (Hoogendoorn et al., 2021, p.1). The authors’ calculations were quite precise, and their results support their premise.
This research was conducted to show how COVID-19 patients impact ICU nurses’ capacity to plan care. The paper also provides proof of generalizations of the findings that may be used independently. They are consistent with the study’s primary goal of establishing the validity of its results. In addition to reassuring readers that they were not influenced by the NICE Foundation’s funding, the authors stress that they had followed Critical Care Nursing standards throughout the whole process. The writing style of this research paper is simple and clear. Each finding is expressed categorically, with supporting figures and data. I had trouble understanding the article’s main points, and I put this in large part to the author’s use of simple, direct language.
In conclusion, the findings of this study provide important information on the causes and consequences of nursing burnout in healthcare settings both before and after the introduction of COVID. It is similar to research by Llop-Gironés et al. (2021) that looked at how emotionally and physically taxing working circumstances contributed to increased nurse turnover. High standards of cleanliness have an impact on nurses’ work. However, it was found that following the epidemic, many of them reverted back to their old ways (Stangerup et al., 2021). Additional study is required to determine whether or not this was an absolute need for relieving the mental strain of micromanagement.
References
Hoogendoorn, M. E., Brinkman, S., Bosman, R. J., Haringman, J., de Keizer, N. F., & Spijkstra, J. J. (2021). The impact of COVID-19 on nursing workload and planning of nursing staff on the intensive care: A prospective descriptive multicenter study. International Journal of Nursing Studies, 121, 104005. Web.
Llop-Gironés, A., Vračar, A., Llop-Gironés, G., Benach, J., Angeli-Silva, L., Jaimez, L., Thapa, P., Bhatta, R., Mahindrakar, S., Bontempo Scavo, S., Nar Devi, S., Barria, S., Marcos Alonso, S., & Julià, M. (2021). Employment and working conditions of nurses: Where and how health inequalities have increased during the covid-19 pandemic?Human Resources for Health, 19(1). Web.
Stangerup, M., Hansen, M. B., Hansen, R., Sode, L. P., Hesselbo, B., Kostadinov, K., Olesen, B. S., & Calum, H. (2021). Hand hygiene compliance of healthcare workers before and during the COVID-19 pandemic: A long-term follow-up study. American Journal of Infection Control, 49(9), 1118–1122. Web.