Organizations
Daphne Cockwell School of Nursing, Ryerson University
Toronto General Hospital, University Health Network
Authors
Jennifer Lapum, PhD, RN , Professor, Daphne Cockwell School of Nursing, Ryerson University, jlapum@ryerson.ca, 416-979-5000 ex. 556316
Suzanne Fredericks, PhD, RN, Professor, Daphne Cockwell School of Nursing, Ryerson University, sfrederi@ryerson.ca
Julie McShane, MN, RN, Manager of Professional Practice, Toronto General Hospital, University Health Network, Julie.McShane@uhn.ca
Sannie Lai, MN, RN, Clinical Manager, Toronto General Hospital, University Health Network, Sannie.Lai@uhn.ca
Megan Nguyen, PhD(c), RN, Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, megan.nguyen@ryerson.ca
Purpose and Issue
We conducted research about nurses’ emotional experiences of, and the need for support, working in COVID-19 acute care environments at six hospitals. Our first article is available online at: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/0844562120982420 and we have two more under review.
The nurse’s sacrifice of working on the frontlines of COVID-19 designated units has resulted in the reward of helping patients and families, but also emotional distress and trauma. As frontline providers, nurses spend sustained periods of time at the bedside with increased workload as they try to stay abreast of the current evidence while working long hours. Oftentimes, they are also working
with inadequate personal protective equipment (PPE). These conditions are leading to vicarious trauma, emotional and physical exhaustion, anxiety, depression, insomnia, and burnout.
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