The lived experience of mental health nurses nursing uncooperative psychiatric patients positive for Covid-19

Abstract

Background: The responsibilities of providing care to uncooperative psychiatric patients whilst they were positive for Covid-19, whereas keeping a balance between their profession, personal life, and family surely had impact on the wellbeing of mental health nurses. This may have led them to experience stress, burnout, and emotional incompetence, or even post-traumatic growth. Despite this, previous research focused more on the nurses and healthcare workers working with cooperative mental health patients, and did not address the needs of mental health nurses nursing uncooperative psychiatric patients. Objective: The aim of the current study was to explore in depth the lived experiences of mental health nurses who worked directly with uncooperative psychiatric patients that were positive for Covid-19. The objectives of the study were to: 1) explore the impact on mental health nurses nursing uncooperative psychiatric patients whilst positive for Covid-19, 2) identify and explore the coping strategies utilised by the mental health nurses, and 3) explore in depth the support systems of these mental health nurses during those tough times. Design: A qualitative approach following the principles of Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis. Setting: The study was conducted in the mental health ward where uncooperative psychiatric patients positive for Covid-19 were being nursed. Participants: Eight mental health nurses, consisting of three females and five males and who were nursing UPP positive for Covid-19. Methodology: Participants were recruited via purposeful sampling. Semi-structured interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim. IPA was used for the data analysis. Results: Three superordinate themes emerged namely: ̳Fear of the Unknown, ̳Infection Control Measures‘ and ̳Supportive Relationships‘. Conclusion: The participants often mentioned the words; hard, stressful, broken, and challenging. Most of these fears were related to themselves getting infected with this virus, or transmitting it to their loved ones. Mental health nurses also mentioned the deaths, the increased risks whilst nursing uncooperative psychiatric patients, the challenges to explain the Covid-19 phenomenon to uncooperative psychiatric patients, and the drastic changes they had to make. Although for their own protection, personal protective equipment and the single rooms inhibited their mental health nursing skills drastically. The importance of support from their friends and families, colleagues, management, and healthcare authorities was also emphasised on.