%0 Journal Article
%T The early impact of COVID-19 on intensive care nurses' personal and professional well-being: A qualitative study.
%A Calkins K
%A Guttormson J
%A McAndrew NS
%A Losurdo H
%A Loonsfoot D
%A Schmitz S
%A Fitzgerald J
%J Intensive Crit Care Nurs
%V 76
%N 0
%D Jun 2023
%M 36848704
%F 4.235
%R 10.1016/j.iccn.2023.103388
%X <B>OBJECTIVE: </B>To describe the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on intensive care nurses personal and professional well-being.<BR><B>METHODS: </B>A descriptive, qualitative design was used. Two nurse researchers conducted one-on-one interviews via Zoom or TEAMS using a semi-structured interview guide.<BR><B>METHODS: </B>Thirteen nurses who were working in an intensive care unit in the United States participated in the study. A convenience sample of nurses who completed a survey in the larger parent study provided an email and were contacted by the research team to participate in interviews to discuss their experiences.<BR><B>METHODS: </B>An inductive approach to content analysis was used to develop categories.<BR><B>RESULTS: </B>Five major categories emerged from the interviews: (1) We are not heroes, (2) inadequate support, (3) helplessness, (4) exhaustion, and (5) Nurses the second victim.<BR><B>CONCLUSIONS: </B>The COVID-19 pandemic has taken a physical and mental health toll on intensive care nurses. The impact of the pandemic on personal and professional well-being has serious implications for retaining and expanding the nursing workforce.<BR><B>CONCLUSIONS: </B>This work highlights the importance for bedside nurses to advocate for systemic change to improve the work environment. It is imperative for nurses to have effective training including evidence-based practice and clinical skills. There needs to be systems in place to monitor and support nurses' mental health and encourage bedside nurses to use self-care methods and practices to prevent anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder and burnout.