The Impact of COVID-19 from the Perspectives of Dutch District Nurses: A Mixed-Methods Study
Abstract
:1. Introduction
2. Materials and Methods
2.1. Design
2.2. Setting and Participant Selection
2.3. Data Collection
2.3.1. Individual Interviews
2.3.2. Follow-Up Questionnaire
2.4. Data Analysis
2.4.1. Interviews
2.4.2. Follow-Up Questionnaire
2.5. Ethical Considerations
3. Results
3.1. Impact on Daily Care for Patients
3.1.1. Downscaling and Upscaling of District Nursing Care
3.1.2. Changed Daily Care Routine
3.1.3. The Impact on Informal Caregivers
3.1.4. Working with PPE and COVID-19 Restrictions
3.2. Impact on District Nursing Teams
3.2.1. Increased Work Pressure
3.2.2. Fear of Infection
3.2.3. Psychosocial Effects and Mental Support
3.2.4. Leadership and the Nurse’s Role within the Organisation
3.2.5. Support from the Organisation
3.3. Worries about and Needs for the Future
3.3.1. Uncertainty and Worries about the Future
3.3.2. Future Role and Collaboration within District Nursing Care
3.3.3. Necessary Changes for the Future at the Organisational and National Levels
3.3.4. Preparing for the Future
4. Discussion
4.1. Strengths and Limitations
4.2. Implications for Practice, Policy and Research
5. Conclusions
Author Contributions
Funding
Institutional Review Board Statement
Informed Consent Statement
Data Availability Statement
Acknowledgments
Conflicts of Interest
Appendix A. Interview Guide
General Questions |
● Are you currently working in district nursing care? If not, where are you working? If not related to district nursing care, finish the interview |
● At what organisation are you working? |
● For how long have you been working in district nursing care? |
● What is your function title? |
● How old are you? |
Specific Questions Regarding the Impact of COVID-19 on District Nursing Care |
● What impact have you experienced as a result of the COVID-19 crisis? |
● What is the impact of COVID-19 on the client? |
● What is the impact of COVID-19 on the organisation and organisational decisions? |
● Are you well equipped in your work in district nursing care to properly perform your role during the COVID-19 crisis? Please explain. |
● Where are the greatest needs in district nursing care at this moment (during the COVID-19 crisis)? |
● What challenges do you foresee for yourself, the client, and the organisation in the near future? |
● What do you need and from whom to respond to these challenges? |
Appendix B. Online Questionnaire
Question | Answer Options |
What is your gender? | Male Female I’d rather not say |
How old are you? | <open field> |
What is your current function? | District nurse (bachelor’s degree required) Specialised nurse Nurse specialist Other <open field> |
What is your education level? | Bachelor’s degree Master’s degree at a university for applied science Master’s degree in education at university |
How many hours per week do you work in district nursing care? | <open field> |
How long have you been working in district nursing care? | <open field> |
Question | Answer Options |
Do you recognise the above description of [the subtheme] in district nursing care during the first outbreak? If not, please explain | Yes No <open field> |
How is the current situation of downscaling in district nursing care? | Situation is improved Situation is unchanged Situation is deteriorated Situation is both improved and deteriorated |
Please explain | <open field> |
Question | Answer Options |
Do you recognise the above description of [the subtheme] in district nursing care during the first outbreak? If not, please explain | Yes No, <open field> |
Has the situation regarding your future role and collaboration in district nursing care already been realised or implemented? | Yes Yes, partly No |
Please explain | <open field> |
Question | Answer Options |
What has helped you the most during the COVID-19 crisis in district nursing care? | <open field> |
What has bothered you the most during the COVID-19 crisis in district nursing care? | <open field> |
This is the final question. If there is anything else you would like to say about this subject or research, you can do so here. | <open field> |
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Interviews (2020) N = 36 | Follow-Up Questionnaire (2021) N = 18 | |
---|---|---|
Age; mean (sd) | 43.0 (12) | 42.5 (10.3) |
Sex: female; n (%) | 33 (91.7) | 18 (100) |
Function; n (%) | 19 4 1 2 | 14 3 1 0 |
| ||
Years of experience in district nursing care; mean (SD) | 9.5 (5.2) | 14 (7.0) |
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Veldhuizen, J.D.; Zwakhalen, S.; Buurman, B.M.; Bleijenberg, N. The Impact of COVID-19 from the Perspectives of Dutch District Nurses: A Mixed-Methods Study. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18, 13266. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph182413266
Veldhuizen JD, Zwakhalen S, Buurman BM, Bleijenberg N. The Impact of COVID-19 from the Perspectives of Dutch District Nurses: A Mixed-Methods Study. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2021; 18(24):13266. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph182413266
Chicago/Turabian StyleVeldhuizen, Jessica D., Sandra Zwakhalen, Bianca M. Buurman, and Nienke Bleijenberg. 2021. "The Impact of COVID-19 from the Perspectives of Dutch District Nurses: A Mixed-Methods Study" International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 18, no. 24: 13266. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph182413266