Life in the pandemic: Some reflections on nursing in the context of COVID‐19

• Published in: Journal of Clinical Nursing 2020-07, Vol.29 (13-14), p.2041-2043
• Main Authors: Jackson, Debra, Bradbury‐Jones, Caroline, Baptiste, Diana, Gelling, Leslie, Morin, Karen, Neville, Stephen, Smith, Graeme D.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 0962-1067; 1365-2702
• DOI: 10.1111/jocn.15257

While necessary, this could put older people at risk of loneliness, isolation and exacerbation of existing problems, and so it is very important that we all look out for older people in our neighbourhoods and provide support, assistance and safe social interaction as required. Nurses are at the forefront in institutional settings such as nursing homes and prisons, with homeless people, and other hard to reach populations and are grappling with the effects of low health literacy, rapidity of change and health information, and a lack of resources to ensure that all know and understand what is required to keep them safe. Despite initial fears, the spread of the virus appeared to have been effectively controlled over the last two months through the use of stringent measures, including practice of good personal hygiene, avoidance of group gatherings and implementation of social isolation measures. Across the world, there are concerns that nursing's capacity to provide care will be stretched by the increased workload and by the number of front‐line nurses that are expected to be affected by COVID‐19.