Introduction
The COVID-19 pandemic has presented the healthcare system and its workforce with unprecedented challenges. The growing workload requirements faced by healthcare employees, especially those working in the community, have been one of the most severe challenges. Community nurses, in particular, have had to change how they operate to minimize in-person interactions. This has required them to use technology more extensively to assess and support clients remotely and deal with growing workloads. Besides, the disparity between supply and demand for district nurse (DN) services brought on by rising patient volumes, understanding of patients, the complexity of treatment, and lack of a corresponding rise in the workforce.
Many states rushed student nurses into the field to combat the virus’s spread and to supplement the workforce on short notice. However, a solution deemed necessary at the time has proven detrimental to the quality of care that some patients are now receiving. This paper will argue that the premature deployment of student nurses has harmed the healthcare system and its employees. This paper will prove this claim and address the causes, such as lack of knowledge and clinical practice, as well as psychological stress.
Long-Term Impact of Student Nurse Deployment During COVID-19
Allowing student nurses to enter the workforce too soon may disproportionately impact specific groups. For instance, minority groups or people from lower socioeconomic backgrounds may lack access to resources and support to cope with the demands of working during a pandemic. Due to the pandemic, nursing schools have allowed their students to graduate early to increase the number of employees. These new graduates enter the workforce with less education and clinical experience than they might otherwise have and find themselves in situations with less supervision and mentorship (Veenema et al., 2022, p. 265). Giving so much responsibility to untrained nurses without the support they need puts patients at risk and can leave nurses feeling overwhelmed and burned out.
Impact on Nurse Students
One of the main concerns about allowing student nurses to enter the workforce too soon is the risk of burnout. The most experienced healthcare workers may find the increased workload demands and stress associated with working during a pandemic overwhelming. Burnout is even more likely for student nurses who are not fully trained and may lack the necessary skills and knowledge to meet these demands (McCloughen, 2020, p. 2510). Burnout can cause emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and decreased personal accomplishment, which can harm an individual’s health and job performance (Dimitriu et al., 2020, p. 3). Allowing nursing students to graduate early meets the moment’s needs but threatens the future workforce’s sustainability.
The Influence of COVID-19 on the Next Generation of Nurses
Students who started working early during the pandemic report increased stress, fear, and anxiety levels. According to Kells & Jennings Mathis (2022), over half of the students (55.6%) felt insecure about the future, 68.2% reported feeling overwhelmed, almost 20% experienced depression, and 54.4% reported that COVID-19 had changed their interest in nursing (p. 363). Another study identified four main themes that senior students spoke about: disruption of everyday systems, feelings of loneliness and inability to escape, protective factors/adjustment, and role identification and formation (Diaz et al., 2021, p. 984). These nuances of student life during a pandemic may have future implications for the entire healthcare system.
Fear About the Future and Heavy Workloads
Most students were fearful about their future because they worried they did not have the clinical hours they were supposed to complete in their final year of study. In addition, they have witnessed that the healthcare system has been pushed to the brink, and the political system is undermining the credibility of scientific experts (Diaz et al., 2021, p. 983). These worries occurred against the backdrop of changing lifestyles and socioeconomic problems.
Another survey respondent described their services as being under intense pressure, which meant they had to regularly postpone planned care to another day or refer patients to another service due to a lack of capacity (While & Clark, 2021, p. 284). Only 1% of survey respondents said they could leave work on time every day, and 70% said they could not take a lunch break every day (While & Clark, 2021, p. 284). Thus, students experienced strong psychological and physical pressure and stress during the pandemic.
Positive Emotions
Students spoke not only about negative emotions and traumatic experiences but also about positive aspects. Thus, most said they were happy to help patients and the healthcare system cope with the crisis (Diaz et al., 2021, p. 983). They also appreciated the opportunity to visit clinics and gain experience caring for patients in crisis.
Many have also used various strategies to relieve stress, from talking to loved ones on the phone to meditation and walking. The research concludes that after the COVID-19 pandemic, mental health services and support for nursing students from peers and medical leaders are needed (Kells & Jennings Mathis, 2022, p. 366). Prolonged stress and uncertainty in one’s knowledge and experience lead to burnout and a desire to leave the profession.
The Biological, Psychological, and Social Factors Contributing to Student Nurse Burnout
Burnout can cause physical symptoms such as tachycardia, hyperventilation, increased perspiration, tremor, decreased concentration, poor sleep hygiene, nausea, vomiting, and fatigue in the biological domain. These symptoms can also lead to depression, weight gain, poor nutrition, and an increased risk of comorbidities, such as diabetes, cancer, cardiovascular disease, and respiratory disease. A balanced diet, regular exercise, and nutritional supplements such as vitamins and fish oils are recommended to address these issues (While & Clark, 2021, p. 388). Yoga and qigong have also been shown to reduce stress in medical personnel.
The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in higher rates of depression, stress, anxiety, and PTSD among healthcare workers, as well as fatigue and decreased performance. This is exacerbated by the fear of infecting family members and the additional responsibilities of caring for elderly family members and school-aged children. To address these issues, healthcare organizations should offer counseling services, employee assistance programs, and opportunities for self-care and self-compassion to student nurses.
Impact of Student Nurse Deployment on the Healthcare System
Systemic Labor Shortage
Reducing nursing staff can significantly impact staffing ratios, patient outcomes, nurse burnout, and other aspects of clinical care. However, the pandemic and the deployment of nursing students to clinics to treat patients with COVID-19 did not create new staffing problems but clarified them. As early as 2017, more than half a million nurses shortage by 2030 was predicted (Veenema et al., 2022, p. 265). The shortage of nurses is attributed to several factors, including the continued retirement of over 1 million experienced registered nurses by 2030 and an aging population that will require additional health workers (Veenema et al., 2022, p. 265). However, the pandemic has shown that despite current and looming labor shortages, unsafe working conditions and poor pay are system issues that must be addressed.
Challenges for the healthcare system
Engaging nursing students in crises is not a new phenomenon. The research, which analyzed more than 800 studies on the role of medical students, shows that the healthcare system can face complications such as lack of supervision and experience and a negative impact on their mental health (Martin et al., 2022, p. 368). Predicting and solving these troubles will allow any medical student’s involvement in the health emergency to be effective and efficient. In addition, clear instructions and distribution of roles will reduce any detrimental impact on medical students’ mental health and their medical education. Thus, students are able and willing to be valuable resources in health emergencies, but only if they are provided with adequate and active support.
Conclusion
The coronavirus pandemic has highlighted systemic health issues associated with a shortage of professional nurses. Recruiting nursing students during the pandemic was a smart move during the crisis, but it has exacerbated health problems. In particular, after the coronavirus pandemic, many students experienced severe stress and depression and decided to leave the profession. Emotional burnout reduced student performance as well as the quality of patient care.
The quality of treatment was also negatively affected by the fact that students started working without completing the entire educational course. In parallel, studies show that nursing students are ready and willing to help cope with crises. The listed negative impact can be reduced or eliminated if students receive psychological and professional support from colleagues and educational institutions.
References
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