Experiences of rural acute care nurses during COVID-19 and the factors that helped or hindered them

Abstract

Background COVID-19 brought about unprecedented changes to health care systems, putting a strain on nurses, including those in rural hospitals. The accounts of nurses who worked during COVID-19 can help to increase understanding of this strain and how nurses can be supported during such crises. The aim of this study was to increase the understanding of rural acute care nurses’ experiences during COVID-19 and identify what challenged and supported them. Methods This study was completed using a qualitative description design, supported by the Society-to-Cells Resilience Theory. Convenience sampling was used to recruit participants with a target sample size of 10-30 nurses. Semi-structured interviews were conducted between March and May of 2023 via Zoom software; lasting from 60 to 90 minutes each. Content analysis was conducted by the primary researcher, with checks by a secondary researcher on two interviews for coding accuracy. Results Six Ontario rural acute care nurses participated in the study. Three related categories of factors emerged from the analysis; individual, workplace, and community factors. At the individual level, nurses faced social isolation, but were supported by their family and their own optimism. A key workplace factor that contributed to their distress was poor working conditions, including ineffectual management. However, they were supported emotionally by their coworkers. Lastly, the community could have a positive or negative effect depending on how supportive they were of nurses during COVID-19. Conclusion Strong support systems, resource availability in the workplace, and active and supportive management increased nurses’ well-being and resilience in the rural workplace. These findings can be used to inform future policy and management decisions in rural workplaces, especially during times of crisis, to prevent turnover and worsened mental health in rural nurses.