EXPERIENCES OF CRITICAL CARE UNIT NURSES WITH MANAGEMENT OF COVID-19 PATIENTS AT KENYATTA NATIONAL HOSPITAL, NAIROBI CITY COUNTY KENYA

Abstract

Background: Corona virus disease 2019 (COVID-19) resulted in unprecedented stress on hospital and critical care systems globally. Healthcare professionals are critical resources for every country in control of any outbreak and their health as well as safety is crucial for the continuous safety of patient care. Health workers offering patient care during pandemic outbreaks are under exaggerated stress linked to increased infection risk, stigmatization, low staffing, as well as uncertainty, hence comprehensive support is crucial during and after the outbreaks.
Objectives: The aim of the study was to describe the experiences of critical care unit nurses with management of COVID-19 patients at Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH), Nairobi City County Kenya.
Methods: This was an exploratory study using an inductive approach based on semi-structured in-depth interviews conducted face to face with 25 nurses actively working in critical care units with COVID-19 patients. Interviews were conducted until saturation was reached. Convenience sampling was used to select respondents for the study. Study data was interpreted according to themes identified using thematic analysis.
Results: The experiences of nurses managing COVID-19 patients were
summarized into four major themes, difficulties in care and treatment,
responses to challenges, corresponding necessities and learnt lessons.
Conclusion: The experiences of nurses managing COVID 19 patients in KNH have been affected psychologically and emotionally. They experienced resistance due to myths and misconceptions related to false information from unreliable sources circulating on social media which contributed to low uptake of the COVID-19 vaccine by the eligible population. One of the biggest challenges was living in fear and terror due to the risk of catching the virus and spreading to family members. Interventions to boost nurses’ psychological and emotional energy are recommended.