Nursing during the time of C O V I D

There’s been no time like the present where Nurses are being appropriately revered as the backbone of the healthcare system. But that admiration and professional responsibility doesn’t come without significant pressure and fear of the unknown. It’s more important than ever to be mindful of the current context and manage your practice to mitigate risks to yourself as a Nurse, and to others. I’ve categorized those risks into three areas:

1. Your Own Health + Well-Being

As a Nurse, you understand the risk you pose to your patients if you work while unwell. However, you may feel compelled to attend work because of the additional pressures right now. But if you‘re not well and have physical symptoms, stay home. Your Mental health is equally as important and is often forgotten. Your ability to focus and provide adequate care may be compromised if your mental health is in question. A few strategies that can be offered to ensure that your overall health and well-being are being maintained include:

Setting Goals – They can be big or small but make them achievable and realistic.

Being Intentional – What you decide to do is very important. Intentionality in making your plan, deciding what to do and when, enhances your feeling of control.

Having Purpose – When typical patterns are interrupted, purpose becomes essential. Purpose provides meaning as well as structure.

Seeking Assistance if you Need It – Recognizing signs of disrupted sleep, erratic eating, anger, depression, anxiety or difficulty focusing might mean you should talk to a professional.

2. The Assessment of Risk and What is Reasonable to You in the Circumstances

It’s become clear that Nurses may be asked to work under conditions that may result in personal risk to them. As a Nurse, you need to assess the risk to yourself and your patients. A few strategies to consider:

Consulting – If possible, consult with educators, trusted advisors, your union or legal counsel.

Document – If you are deployed to an area that you’re unfamiliar with or asked to engage in practice that you don’t feel skilled to perform; be responsible for practising in accordance with standards and guidelines established by your regulatory body. Consider documenting the steps taken when making decisions and identify the circumstances you are working under.

Be Accountable

• Perform activities you’re competent to do and ask for help with those you don’t know how to perform. Understand your learning needs specific to the new practice setting and considering ways you might address them.

• Initiate discussions with your employer about your needs.

• Seek advice and collaborate with the health care team to uphold safe patient care. If you are working independently, this may be difficult to do. Consider reaching out to your professional association or accessing practice support resources in your jurisdiction or connecting with colleagues to seek their input.

• Keep good records. Ensure you note if care was provided by someone else for patients that you were responsible for.

3. Being Mindful of Ways you May be Working as Result of the Pandemic

As the pandemic evolves, remote services allow isolated patients to connect safely with their care providers, without the risk of spreading the virus. Fundamentally, regardless of the way care is being delivered, the professional/patient relationship is established, and all standards of care would apply. These new ways of working may have an impact on privacy and protection of personal health information and maintaining confidentiality is of the utmost importance. Consider the following:

When using Mobile Devices

• Use passwords and auto-locking features.

• Use portable storage devices such as USBs that are password protected.

• Keep your software up to date.

Communication with others about Personal Health Information

• Avoid discussing personal health information in public areas and avoid using social apps to share personal health information.

• Use email accounts designated to the workplace.

Safety for Paper Files

• Set up file storage in areas that are accessible to professionals who need access and use locked cabinets, if necessary.

For a more detailed discussion about this topic, listen to the podcast Medical Malpractice https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/farah-ismail-nurse-lawyer-healthcare-consultant-discusses/id1499718332?i=1000475893295