Pre COVID-19 emergency department nurses' perspectives of the preparedness to safely manage influenza pandemics: A descriptive exploratory qualitative study.

BACKGROUND

Pandemics pose significant challenges to healthcare systems worldwide and emergency departments are a crucial component in any pandemic response. This study was designed to explore what New Zealand emergency nurses perceive as the major challenges to nursing care and staff safety during a pandemic, and to identify strategies nurses feel are important in mitigating these challenges.

METHODS

A descriptive exploratory qualitative design using semi-structured interviews was conducted in March 2019. Participants were 16 triage nurses from two New Zealand emergency departments. Qualitative content and thematic data analysis techniques were used.

RESULTS

Emergency nurses highlighted existing safety issues in their practice, and their concerns about how a pandemic might exacerbate these issues. These themes were identified as: safety of self and family, safety of patients, and safety of organisational systems. Nurses also shared their perspectives on how to mitigate these safety issues.

CONCLUSIONS

This study provides a detailed understanding of the concerns emergency nurses hold about working during pandemics. Similar fears for staff and patient safety have been voiced globally during the current COVID-19 pandemic, and it is crucial that emergency departments worldwide develop pandemic plans that address the safety concerns to which fear was attributed.