Working in a Dutch nursing home during the COVID-19 pandemic: Experiences and lessons learned

J.E.R. Rutten*, R. Backhaus, J.P.H. Hamers, H. Verbeek

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

Abstract

Aims: To gain insight into how direct care staff in Dutch nursing homes experienced work during the COVID-19 pandemic.Design: A qualitative study consisting of semi-structured, face-to-face focus groups was conducted using "the active dialogue approach".Methods: Participants (n = 29) were care staff from four care teams at Dutch nursing homes. Teams were selected based on the number of COVID-19 infections amongst residents. Data were analysed with conventional content analysis.Results: Themes emerging from the data were the loss of (daily) working structure, interference between work and private life for direct care staff, the importance of social support by the team and a leader, and the effects on relationship-centred care of the measures. Results offer concrete implications for similar situations in the future: psychological support on-site; autonomy in daily work of care staff; an active role of a manger on the work floor and the importance of relationship-centred care.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)2710-2719
Number of pages10
JournalNursing open
Volume9
Issue number6
Early online date6 Jul 2021
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Nov 2022

Keywords

  • dementia
  • long-term care
  • management
  • nursing staff
  • relationship-centred care
  • PERSON-CENTERED CARE
  • LONG-TERM-CARE
  • QUALITATIVE RESEARCH
  • MENTAL-HEALTH
  • WORKERS
  • AUTONOMY
  • NURSES

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