Nurses’ Experiences of Care in Portuguese Nursing Homes during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Focus Group Study

Helga Rafael Henriques (), Tiago Nascimento and Andreia Costa
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Helga Rafael Henriques: Department of Fundamentals of Nursing, Escola Superior de Enfermagem de Lisboa, Nursing Research, Innovation and Development Centre of Lisbon (CIDNUR), 1600-190 Lisbon, Portugal
Tiago Nascimento: Nursing Administration Department, Escola Superior de Enfermagem de Lisboa, Nursing Research, Innovation and Development Centre of Lisbon (CIDNUR), 1600-190 Lisbon, Portugal
Andreia Costa: Department of Community Health Nursing, Escola Superior de Enfermagem de Lisboa, Nursing Research, Innovation and Development Centre of Lisbon (CIDNUR), 1600-190 Lisbon, Portugal

IJERPH, 2023, vol. 20, issue 16, 1-17

Abstract: The COVID-19 pandemic has had a considerable influence on long-term care facilities, exposing the shortcomings of nursing homes in implementing recommendations by health authorities. It also emphasizes the need for a nursing management model customized to the vulnerable status of residents, organizational demands, and occupational nursing requirements. We aimed to characterize the perspectives of nurses who have experienced COVID-19 in nursing homes regarding measures implemented to avoid or manage outbreaks in that environment. An interview was conducted with a focus group following the consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative research guidelines. Data analysis was performed using WebQDA software following a thematic category orientation. Eight Portuguese nurses working in nursing homes from the country’s central area participated in this study. We identified three major significant areas for long-term care respiratory outbreak management: strategic (policy, staffing, and resources); tactical (training, organization, engagement, and supervision); and operational planning (vigilance, prevention of disease spread, and family involvement). From the participants’ view, the management of COVID-19 in nursing homes must be highly supportive and responsive, offering resources to control risks, supporting residents’ care, and ensuring the safety and well-being of residents and staff members. Saturation was not reached; thus, further research is needed in this area.

Keywords: COVID-19; nursing; nursing homes; infection control; decision-making (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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