"Like fighting a fire with a water pistol": a theoretically informed study of the impact on critical care nurses working through the pandemic.

Louise McCallum; Janice Rattray; Pam Ramsay; Teresa Scott; Lisa Salisbury; Alistair Hull; Beth Pollard; Jordan Miller; Stephen Cole; Diane Dixon

doi:10.1111/nicc.12997

Abstract

Background: Critical care nurses (CCNs) were essential to the COVID-19 pandemic response. Demands on this workforce were significant and sustained (Endacott & Blot, 2022).
Aim: To explore the impact on, and experiences of, CCNs working during the pandemic.
Method: From January to November 2021, CCNs (n = 461) from across the UK completed validated questionnaires assessing components of the Job Demands-Resources model (Bakker & Demerouti, 2017) including job demands (e.g., emotional load), job resources (e.g., autonomy), health impairment (e.g., psychological distress) and organisational outcomes (e.g., safety). Predictors of health impairment and organisational outcomes were identified through regression analyses, and comparisons were drawn with pre-pandemic survey data (n = 557) collected in 2018. Data from semi-structured interviews with 28 CCNs was deductively analysed using framework analysis and the JD-R model.
Results: During the pandemic job demands were higher, job resources were low, and the prevalence of mental health impairment, compared with pre-pandemic data, was markedly elevated. The risk of clinically significant health impairment was striking, CCNs had a six-fold elevation in risk of psychological distress and a four-fold risk of burnout compared with 2018. A third experienced post-traumatic stress symptoms. Perceptions of the quality and safety of patient care were poor, and considerably more care was left undone than in 2018. In interviews, participants described why job demands and reduced quality and safety of patient care were ‘impactful’, and how relationships with colleagues served as a vital job resource.
Implications for practice: Applying the JD-R model with a mixed methods approach enabled us to understand CCNs' experiences. This study highlights the enduring impact of the pandemic work environment on staff and on organisational outcomes.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	31-32
Number of pages	2
Journal	Nursing in Critical Care
Volume	28
Issue number	S1
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1111/nicc.12997
Publication status	Published - 17 Nov 2023
Event	British Association of Critical Care Nurses Conference - Nottingham, United Kingdom Duration: 11 Sept 2023 → 12 Sept 2023

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being

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10.1111/nicc.12997

1 Article

The Impact on Redeployed Nurses Working in Critical Care During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Cross-Sectional Study
McCallum, L., Dixon, D., Pollard, B., Miller, J., Hull, A., Scott, T., Salisbury, L., Ramsay, P. & Rattray, J. (Lead / Corresponding author), Jul 2025, In: Nursing in Critical Care. 30, 4, 14 p., e70085.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Cite this

@article{3d4237cae88145349c5f4f8beea5fa61,

title = "{"}Like fighting a fire with a water pistol{"}: a theoretically informed study of the impact on critical care nurses working through the pandemic.",

abstract = "Background: Critical care nurses (CCNs) were essential to the COVID-19 pandemic response. Demands on this workforce were significant and sustained (Endacott \& Blot, 2022). Aim: To explore the impact on, and experiences of, CCNs working during the pandemic. Method: From January to November 2021, CCNs (n = 461) from across the UK completed validated questionnaires assessing components of the Job Demands-Resources model (Bakker \& Demerouti, 2017) including job demands (e.g., emotional load), job resources (e.g., autonomy), health impairment (e.g., psychological distress) and organisational outcomes (e.g., safety). Predictors of health impairment and organisational outcomes were identified through regression analyses, and comparisons were drawn with pre-pandemic survey data (n = 557) collected in 2018. Data from semi-structured interviews with 28 CCNs was deductively analysed using framework analysis and the JD-R model. Results: During the pandemic job demands were higher, job resources were low, and the prevalence of mental health impairment, compared with pre-pandemic data, was markedly elevated. The risk of clinically significant health impairment was striking, CCNs had a six-fold elevation in risk of psychological distress and a four-fold risk of burnout compared with 2018. A third experienced post-traumatic stress symptoms. Perceptions of the quality and safety of patient care were poor, and considerably more care was left undone than in 2018. In interviews, participants described why job demands and reduced quality and safety of patient care were {\textquoteleft}impactful{\textquoteright}, and how relationships with colleagues served as a vital job resource. Implications for practice: Applying the JD-R model with a mixed methods approach enabled us to understand CCNs' experiences. This study highlights the enduring impact of the pandemic work environment on staff and on organisational outcomes.",

author = "Louise McCallum and Janice Rattray and Pam Ramsay and Teresa Scott and Lisa Salisbury and Alistair Hull and Beth Pollard and Jordan Miller and Stephen Cole and Diane Dixon",

note = "{\textcopyright} 2023 The Authors. Nursing in Critical Care {\textcopyright} 2023 British Association of Critical Care Nurses.; British Association of Critical Care Nurses Conference ; Conference date: 11-09-2023 Through 12-09-2023",

year = "2023",

month = nov,

day = "17",

doi = "10.1111/nicc.12997",

language = "English",

volume = "28",

pages = "31--32",

journal = "Nursing in Critical Care",

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}

TY - JOUR

T1 - "Like fighting a fire with a water pistol"

T2 - British Association of Critical Care Nurses Conference

AU - McCallum, Louise

AU - Rattray, Janice

AU - Ramsay, Pam

AU - Scott, Teresa

AU - Salisbury, Lisa

AU - Hull, Alistair

AU - Pollard, Beth

AU - Miller, Jordan

AU - Cole, Stephen

AU - Dixon, Diane

PY - 2023/11/17

Y1 - 2023/11/17

N2 - Background: Critical care nurses (CCNs) were essential to the COVID-19 pandemic response. Demands on this workforce were significant and sustained (Endacott & Blot, 2022). Aim: To explore the impact on, and experiences of, CCNs working during the pandemic. Method: From January to November 2021, CCNs (n = 461) from across the UK completed validated questionnaires assessing components of the Job Demands-Resources model (Bakker & Demerouti, 2017) including job demands (e.g., emotional load), job resources (e.g., autonomy), health impairment (e.g., psychological distress) and organisational outcomes (e.g., safety). Predictors of health impairment and organisational outcomes were identified through regression analyses, and comparisons were drawn with pre-pandemic survey data (n = 557) collected in 2018. Data from semi-structured interviews with 28 CCNs was deductively analysed using framework analysis and the JD-R model. Results: During the pandemic job demands were higher, job resources were low, and the prevalence of mental health impairment, compared with pre-pandemic data, was markedly elevated. The risk of clinically significant health impairment was striking, CCNs had a six-fold elevation in risk of psychological distress and a four-fold risk of burnout compared with 2018. A third experienced post-traumatic stress symptoms. Perceptions of the quality and safety of patient care were poor, and considerably more care was left undone than in 2018. In interviews, participants described why job demands and reduced quality and safety of patient care were ‘impactful’, and how relationships with colleagues served as a vital job resource. Implications for practice: Applying the JD-R model with a mixed methods approach enabled us to understand CCNs' experiences. This study highlights the enduring impact of the pandemic work environment on staff and on organisational outcomes.

AB - Background: Critical care nurses (CCNs) were essential to the COVID-19 pandemic response. Demands on this workforce were significant and sustained (Endacott & Blot, 2022). Aim: To explore the impact on, and experiences of, CCNs working during the pandemic. Method: From January to November 2021, CCNs (n = 461) from across the UK completed validated questionnaires assessing components of the Job Demands-Resources model (Bakker & Demerouti, 2017) including job demands (e.g., emotional load), job resources (e.g., autonomy), health impairment (e.g., psychological distress) and organisational outcomes (e.g., safety). Predictors of health impairment and organisational outcomes were identified through regression analyses, and comparisons were drawn with pre-pandemic survey data (n = 557) collected in 2018. Data from semi-structured interviews with 28 CCNs was deductively analysed using framework analysis and the JD-R model. Results: During the pandemic job demands were higher, job resources were low, and the prevalence of mental health impairment, compared with pre-pandemic data, was markedly elevated. The risk of clinically significant health impairment was striking, CCNs had a six-fold elevation in risk of psychological distress and a four-fold risk of burnout compared with 2018. A third experienced post-traumatic stress symptoms. Perceptions of the quality and safety of patient care were poor, and considerably more care was left undone than in 2018. In interviews, participants described why job demands and reduced quality and safety of patient care were ‘impactful’, and how relationships with colleagues served as a vital job resource. Implications for practice: Applying the JD-R model with a mixed methods approach enabled us to understand CCNs' experiences. This study highlights the enduring impact of the pandemic work environment on staff and on organisational outcomes.

U2 - 10.1111/nicc.12997

DO - 10.1111/nicc.12997

M3 - Meeting abstract

C2 - 37956997

SN - 1362-1017

VL - 28

SP - 31

EP - 32

JO - Nursing in Critical Care

JF - Nursing in Critical Care

IS - S1

Y2 - 11 September 2023 through 12 September 2023

ER -

"Like fighting a fire with a water pistol": a theoretically informed study of the impact on critical care nurses working through the pandemic.

Abstract

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Research output

The Impact on Redeployed Nurses Working in Critical Care During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Cross-Sectional Study

Cite this