Introduction
Nurses play a crucial role in the delivery of healthcare services given their direct interactions with patients. Therefore, providing them with optimum working environments often translates into high quality of care and patient satisfaction. This paper discusses the findings of the article “Mental Health and the Covid-19 Pandemic” by Pfefferbaum and North (2020). A description of the professional nursing experience regarding Magnet facilities is also provided.
Covid-19 Pandemic and Mental Health
The Covid-19 pandemic has caused high levels of personal distress due to the implementation of preventive public health measures such as curfews and social distancing. The uncertain disease prognosis, perceived susceptibility, financial losses, reductions in disposable incomes, and inadequate resources for treatment and protection of healthcare workers also contribute to this anguish (Pfefferbaum & North, 2020). Consequently, the mental well-being of the public and healthcare workers is at risk. Although health workers are well-equipped to provide mental care to patients and the public, their own psychological needs should first be met. Therefore, hospitals should monitor and meet the psychosocial needs of their clinicians for the public to benefit from the same. The key factor from the article that resonates with me is that an unwell healthcare provider is not equipped to care for others.
Professional Nursing Experience with Magnet
The Magnet professional practice model aims at creating attractive work environments to draw and maintain skilled nurses. Magnet hospitals should put in place strategies to guarantee the mental wellbeing of their nurses in light of Covid-19 “infection control measures” that have mental health implications on health workers (Walton et al., 2020, p. 242). McCaughey et al. (2020) report that a conducive service climate is delineated by managerial strategies, formal and informal regulations, pecking orders, structures, and processes. Additionally, personnel policies and programs are among the 14 criteria that influence magnetism. The inclusion of psychosocial care into this standard would guarantee that nurses are mentally stable to meet the mental health needs of their patients.
Conclusion
The Covid-19 pandemic has challenged the healthcare system immensely. Its health, economic, and social effects have caused mental distress among members of the public as well as healthcare providers. Nurses are tasked with ensuring the physical and mental well-being of patients. However, this role is challenged if they are not mentally sound to provide psychological care. Hospitals should adopt the Magnet professional practice model by integrating psychosocial considerations into Covid-19 care for patients and healthcare staff.
References
McCaughey, D., McGhan, G. E., Rathert, C., Williams, J. H., & Hearld, K. R. (2020). Magnetic work environments: Patient experience outcomes in Magnet versus non-Magnet hospitals.Health Care Management Review, 45(1), 21-31. Web.
Pfefferbaum, B., & North, C. S. (2020). Mental health and the Covid-19 pandemic.The New England Journal of Medicine, 1-3. Web.
Walton, M., Murray, E., & Christian, M. D. (2020). Mental health care for medical staff and affiliated healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic.European Heart Journal: Acute Cardiovascular Care, 9(3) 241–247. Web.