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Aims: To assess the effects of COVID‐19 pandemic on clinical variables as part of the routine clinical monitoring of patients with chronic diseases in primary care. Design: A prospective longitudinal study was conducted in primary care centres of the Andalusian Health Service. Methods: Data were recorded before the pandemic (T1), during the declaration of the state of emergency (T2) and in the transition phase (T3). The Barthel index and the Short Portable Mental Status Questionnaire (SPMSQ) were used to analyse functional and cognitive changes at the three time points. HbA1c, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, heart rate, BMI and lipid levels were assessed as clinical variables. Descriptive statistics and non‐parametric chi‐square test were used for analysis. STROBE checklist was used for the preparation of this paper. Results: A total fo148 patients with chronic conditions were included in the analysis. Data analysis revealed in T2 only significant reductions in BMI, total levels of cholesterol and HDL during the onset of the pandemic. Barthel Index, SPMSQ, blood pressure and triglycerides and LDL levels worsened in T2, and the negative effects were maintained in T3. Compared to pre‐pandemic values, HbA1c levels improved in T3, but HDL levels worsened. Conclusions: COVID‐19 has drastically disrupted several functional, cognitive and biological variables. These results may be useful in identifying clinical parameters that deserve closer attention in the case of a new health crisis. Further studies are needed to assess the potential impacts of each specific chronic condition. Impact: Cognitive and functional status, blood pressure and triglycerides and LDL levels worsen in short term, maintaining the negative effects in medium‐term. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accessible summary: What is known on the subject?: Supervised Quarantine has been shown to impact the psychological well‐being of those in quarantine both during the COVID‐19 pandemic and in previous pandemics.There are few studies regarding the psychological impact of supervised quarantine for the purpose of COVID‐19 mitigation.There is little research regarding the psychological well‐being of professionals maintaining quarantine, despite the fact they risk potential psychological distress. What the paper adds to existing knowledge?: This paper addresses the paucity of knowledge regarding the psychological well‐being of those undergoing quarantine in a purpose‐built facility.The quarantined study population involved uniquely domestic arrivals and also professionals maintaining quarantine.Lack of control, isolation and miscommunication were perceived as challenging mental well‐being. What are the implications for practice?: Although psychological distress in Domestic arrivals appeared low, there are still identifiable stresses on mental well‐being.Mental health workers need to be cognizant that point entry to COVID‐19 quarantine (Domestic vs. International as well as specific regions) may influence risk of psychological distress.Mental Health nurses supporting those in quarantine should afford quarantined individuals a degree of choice, establish regular clear communication and consider how to establish peer support mechanisms within the quarantine environment. Introduction: Supervised quarantine may compromise psychological well‐being. There is equivocal evidence regarding psychological distress in compulsory supervised quarantine facilities. Aims: To evaluate the mental well‐being of people undergoing and working in a supervised COVID‐19 quarantine facility. Method: Mixed methodology was used, including a cross‐sectional analysis of psychological distress (DASS‐21) and individual semi‐structured interviews (10 professionals maintaining quarantine and 10 quarantined persons). Results: Overall levels of psychological distress were low. Those quarantining from Victoria had significantly lower depression scores compared to all other departure points. Qualitative analysis identified distress being linked to a lack of control, isolation and miscommunication. Discussion: Quarantine was associated with low levels of psychological distress. This was lower in people travelling from Victoria, a state where there were higher rates of infections and restrictions. Interviews showed that psychological distress was conceptualized as being associated with supervised quarantine, but participants recognized the overall importance of quarantine. Implications for Practice: Mental health professionals supporting quarantined people should consider original departure points may predict levels of psychological distress. Implementing ways of gaining control through affording choice, improving communication channels and establishing peer support networks within quarantine settings may help maintain mental well‐being. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: This work aims to explore staff perceptions of (1) the effectiveness of organizational communication during the COVID‐19 pandemic and (2) the impact of organizational communication on staff well‐being and ability to progress their work and patient care. Background: Effective coordination and communication are essential in a pandemic management response. However, the effectiveness of communication strategies used during the COVID‐19 pandemic is not well understood. Design: An exploratory cross‐sectional research design was used. A 33‐item survey tool was created for the study. Methods: The study was conducted at a tertiary teaching hospital in Western Australia. Convenience sampling was used to recruit participants from nursing, medical, allied health services, administrative and clerical, and personal support services (N = 325). Data were collected between December 2020 and May 2021. Results: Overall, all occupational groups found working during the COVID‐19 pandemic stressful, and all groups wanted accessible and accurate communication from management and new policies, procedures, and protocols for future outbreaks. Conclusions: The use of occupational group‐relevant strategies and COVID‐19 protocols, as well as the on‐going use of email, face‐to‐face meetings with debrief sessions, are needed to improve communication and support staff to fulfil their roles. Summary statement: What is already known about the topic? Effective coordination and communication that is timely and two‐way in nature, is an essential part of a pandemic management response. What this paper adds? All occupational groups found working during the COVID‐19 pandemic stressful; all groups wanted accessible and accurate communication from management and new policies, procedures, and protocols for future outbreaks. The implications of this paper: Managing a pandemic situation in health care settings is challenging for all levels of staff including management and all occupational work groups.The use of occupational group‐relevant strategies and COVID‐19 protocols, as well as the on‐going use of email, face‐to‐face meetings with debrief sessions, are needed to improve communication and support staff to fulfil their roles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: The aim of this work is to synthesize and interpret qualitative research examining the experiences of nurses providing care for patients with COVID‐19 in acute care settings in the early stages of the pandemic in different countries. Background: The prevalence of disasters, including the pandemic, is increasing globally. It is important to understand nurses' experiences in depth to effectively manage extraordinary events that may occur in the future. Design: This is a thematic meta‐synthesis study. Methods: Electronic databases, including CINAHL, MEDLINE, PubMed, Web of Science, OVID, and Scopus, were searched for publications from December 2019 to October 2020. The search was updated for publications to 30 May 2022. The thematic synthesis method was used to analyse and interpret the data. Findings The experiences of the nurses giving care to patients with COVID‐19 were grouped under four themes: (1) Difficulties encountered in the care of patients with COVID‐19; (2) mixed emotions experienced in the care of patients with COVID‐19; (3) coping strategies that nurses used in the management of the pandemic; (4) the benefits of the COVID‐19 to nurses. Conclusion: Nurses faced many difficulties and experienced mixed emotions while providing care for patients with coronavirus disease. Perceived social support was seen as the most important strategy for coping with these difficult situations. It is important to be aware of the difficulties and emotions experienced by nurses and support them during the COVID‐19 pandemic for the management of future pandemics. Summary statement: What is already known about this topic? During the COVID‐19 pandemic, the health sector was affected most.Nurses were on the front lines and faced many challenges. What this paper adds? Nurses perceived the COVID‐19 pandemic as a unique experience for their professional identity and personal development despite the difficulties they faced.They saw social support, which would make them feel valuable, as the most important coping strategy. The implications of this paper Lessons learned from nurse experiences in the early stages of the pandemic should be taken into account when planning for a pandemic or other disaster situations.Politicians, health‐care organizations, and nurse managers should increase social support to ensure the well‐being of nurses in busy work environments such as pandemics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of prenatal breast‐feeding education provided to pregnant women who experience fear of breast‐feeding in the COVID‐19 pandemic period. Methods: A prospective randomized controlled trial study was conducted with 128 pregnant women (64 in the experimental group and 64 in the control group) between November 2021 and February 2022. The data were collected via the Numeric Pain Rating Scale, the Breastfeeding Motivation Scale and the Iowa Infant Feeding Attitude Scale to assess fear, motivation and attitudes regarding breast‐feeding. The pregnant women in the experimental group were provided with and education programme on 'safe breastfeeding in the COVID‐19 pandemic'. The breast‐feeding education included in standard care was given to the control group after pre‐test data collection was completed. Results: The significant differences in the mean Numeric Pain Rating Scale, Breastfeeding Motivation Scale and Iowa Infant Feeding Attitude Scale scores of the groups were in favour of the experimental group (P < 0.05). It was determined that in the first postnatal month, in the experimental group, the numbers of women who believed that their breast‐feeding was not affected by COVID‐19 and the numbers of infants solely breastmilk‐fed were higher compared to the control group (P < 0.05). Conclusion: Prenatal breast‐feeding education about safe breast‐feeding in the COVID‐19 pandemic period can reduce fears of breast‐feeding and increase motivation and approving attitudes regarding breast‐feeding. Summary statement: What is already known about this topic? The COVID‐19 pandemic dramatically reduced access for new mothers to their immediate family, health‐care providers and support systems, which are social support providers.The COVID‐19 pandemic also caused mothers to experience intense fear, anxiety and uncertainty about whether to continue breast‐feeding.Although published guidelines emphasize that the advantages of breast‐feeding outweigh the risk of transmission, fears of transmission of COVID‐19 have caused mothers to avoid breast‐feeding. What this paper adds? During the COVID‐19 pandemic period, the breast‐feeding motivation of expectant mothers who received midwife support for breast‐feeding increased, and their fear of breast‐feeding decreased. The implications of this paper: To ensure well‐being in postpartum mothers, a special breast‐feeding education plan should be developed for the conditions during the pregnancy and postpartum periods.In the COVID‐19 pandemic period, breast‐feeding education can be beneficial for this vulnerable group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: This study was conducted in three phases. Phase 1 aimed to adapt the Cancer Information Overload Scale and conduct content validity testing. Phase 2 aimed to conduct factorial validity testing of the scale. Phase 3 aimed to assess information overload and the sources of information used by nurses and midwives to keep up‐to‐date about COVID‐19. Design: A cross‐sectional survey of nurses and midwives working in a metropolitan Local Health District in Sydney, Australia, was conducted from May to June 2020. Methods: Adaptation of the Cancer Information Overload Scale and content validity of the modified scale (as the Pandemic Information Overload Scale) was undertaken by an expert panel comprising of senior nurses and researchers. Factorial validity and reliability of the Pandemic Information Overload Scale were evaluated using exploratory factor analyses using one subsample of the data. Using the second subsample of the data, information overload and sources of information used by nurses and midwives to keep up‐to‐date about COVID‐19 were examined. Results: The Pandemic Information Overload Scale is a reliable and valid instrument for measuring information overload among nurses during a pandemic. Its internal consistency was high (α = 0.81, M = 3.84). Conclusion: The 8‐item PIO scale is a brief, reliable and psychometrically sound instrument for measuring nurses' and midwives' perceptions of information overload during COVID‐19. Mean scores across this study indicated that participants were experiencing above average information overload. Implementing strategies to reduce this overload would optimize clinical decision making and promote patient safety. Summary statement: What is already known about this topic?: The growth of available information for healthcare means health care professionals must filter and process information rapidly to make clinical decisions.A large volume of information has been available from a range of sources related to COVID‐19. This has caused challenges for clinicians to rapidly locate and evaluate information. What this paper adds?: This study offers a validated instrument to assess nurses' and midwives' perceptions of information overload during the COVID‐19 pandemic.Less experienced nurses and midwives had higher information overload compared with those with more experience.Nurses and midwives accessed reliable sources such as the official websites and emails from trusted Health executives for information on the pandemic. The implications of this paper: This instrument can be used to measure of information overload and consequently inform strategies to manage information levels in a clinical settingUnderstanding the sources of information nurses and midwives access can assist with using appropriate methods to deliver information so that nurses and midwives are equipped to make accurate decisions that are best for their patients.Nurses and midwives need support in managing large volumes of information and in gathering the range of information required. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate the predictors of burnout in female nurses during the first wave of the COVID‐19 pandemic. It also sought to evaluate the relationship between each of the variables studied (anxiety, depression, sociodemographic and COVID‐19 variables) and the dimensions of the burnout. Background: One of the groups of health care workers worst affected by the COVID‐19 crisis has been women working as nursing staff, due to the high percentage they account for at a global level and their direct contact with infected patients. Design: This was a cross‐sectional, quantitative study. Methods: Four hundred forty‐four Spanish female nurses from hospital and primary health care centres took part in the study. The data were obtained in 2020 by means of an online survey. Results: Symptoms of depression are a common predictor variable to all the dimensions of burnout, whereas symptoms of anxiety predict emotional exhaustion and depersonalization. Age and years of experience in the job predict depersonalization, whereas the probability of contracting the infection is a predictor variable of emotional exhaustion and personal accomplishment. Conclusion: Predictor variables should be considered in the creation of prevention and intervention plans to reduce the levels of burnout in female nurses. Summary statement: What is already known about this topic? During the COVID‐19 pandemic, nurses have been exposed to high levels of burnout. Research has shown that nurses experience high levels of anxiety and depression in pandemics, in comparison with other job positions in the health care sector.Being a woman and having certain previous psychological conditions (symptoms of anxiety and depression) are predictors of emotional exhaustion and depersonalization. What this paper adds? This research focuses on female nurses, and makes an important contribution given the lack of studies that assess these variables from a gender perspective.Symptoms of depression have been identified as a common predictor variable of the three dimensions of burnout in female nurses during the pandemic, but anxiety only predicts emotional exhaustion and depersonalization, not personal accomplishment.Age and years of experience in the job predict depersonalization, whereas the probability of contracting the infection is a predictor of emotional exhaustion and personal accomplishment. The implications of this paper for practice: The probability of contracting the infection, years of experience as a nurse and age are variables related to higher levels of burnout in female nurses.Absence of depression symptoms is associated with low levels of the three dimensions of burnout, whereas anxiety only predicts depersonalization and personal accomplishment: the implications of this should be considered in developing preventive programmes for burnout. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The first wave of the COVID‐19 pandemic caused a shortage of health care staff, forcing the hiring of senior nursing students. Aims: To describe the psychosocial impact and coping strategies used by nursing students during the first outbreak of the COVID‐19 pandemic and to understand the coping strategies they employed. Method: A qualitative exploratory study was conducted, based on Sandelowski's proposal. Purposive sampling was carried out to recruit 18 students hired during the pandemic. The students were interviewed between 18 March and 15 June 2020. Semi‐structured interviews were conducted using a digital platform. An inductive thematic analysis was performed. Findings The students lived alone and isolated during their contract to protect their cohabitants from possible contagion. The impact of working during the pandemic leads to experiences of stress, insomnia, nightmares and anxiety. Nursing students coped with the emotional burden through mental disconnection and the support of co‐workers and family members. Conclusion: Psychological support and tutoring should be provided by health centres. In addition, in these special circumstances, universities should adapt the training provided. Summary statement: What is already known about this topic? In Spain, as in many other countries, a state of alarm was declared during the first wave of COVID 19. The Ministry of Health established measures to manage the health crisis and contain infections, including the hiring of senior nursing students to work.Working conditions had a high physical and psycho‐emotional impact on health professionals.The lack of prior experience of students in the context of a pandemic and how they enter the workforce could make it difficult to develop adequate coping strategies, enhancing the presence of mental and emotional disorders.What this paper adds? During their work, and in order to avoid contagion, the students lived apart from their families, limited their contacts and were isolated in refuge in rooms or homes. Upon entering the home, they showered, changed clothes and disinfected any surfaces they touched.The students described feeling stressed due to the lack of protective equipment and staff, heavy workloads and lack of knowledge regarding the unit and work protocols. They worried about making mistakes, doing their jobs poorly or being unable to help patients. When they got home, they had episodes of insomnia and anxiety.Faced with this situation, students used mental disconnection or distraction as coping strategies. Others shared their fears and uncertainties with other health care professionals and family members, seeking support and understanding. Other times, they tried to be strong and hide their suffering.The implications of this paper: The incorporation of students as relief for professionals in a situation of extreme need is not exempt from significant psychosocial risks and should include monitoring programs and psychological evaluation.The hospitals should monitor and mentor students to facilitate their adaptation to similar situations in the future.The students required greater support from the administration, including offering them housing where they could live away from family and relatives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: This research aimed to determine predictors of COVID‐19 preventive behaviours in a sample of the Turkish population. Methods: The study was conducted with 575 individuals. COVID‐19 preventive behaviours were evaluated with a 19‐item scale scored from 19 to 95. Knowledge on COVID‐19 was evaluated with a 22‐item scale scored from 0 to 22. General health literacy was evaluated with the Turkey Health Literacy Scale (THLS), which was scored from 0 to 50. Results: The average COVID‐19 preventive behaviours score was moderately high in this sample of the Turkish population. Being female, having a higher level of education, better economic status, being a non‐smoker, having a higher level of COVID‐19 knowledge and better general health literacy score were significant predictors of COVID‐19 preventive behaviours (P < 0.05). Conclusion: Sociodemographic characteristics, knowledge of COVID‐19 and general health literacy are crucial in preventing COVID‐19 infections in a sample of the Turkish population. Summary statement: What is already known about the topic? To reduce the risk of transmission and prevent the spread of the COVID‐19, it is necessary to comply with COVID‐19 preventive behaviours.Sociodemographic characteristics, knowledge of COVID‐19 and general health literacy are crucial in preventing the COVID‐19 disease. What does this paper add? COVID‐19 preventive behaviours scored moderately high among a sample of the Turkish population.Being female, having higher level of education, better economic status, being a non‐smoker, having higher level of knowledge about COVID‐19 and better general health literacy are significant predictors of COVID‐19 preventive behaviours in a sample of the Turkish population, accounting for 22.4% of the variance in COVID‐19 preventive behaviours. The implications of this paper: Attempts should be made to increase the COVID‐19 knowledge and health literacy to increase COVID‐19 preventive behaviours among the Turkish population.In particular, attempts should be made to increase the COVID‐19 preventive behaviours for men, individuals with low education and poor economic conditions, and smokers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The experiences of nurses who blew the whistle during the COVID‐19 pandemic have exposed gaps and revealed an urgent need to revisit our understanding of whistleblowing. Aim: The aim was to develop a better understanding of whistleblowing during a pandemic by using the experiences and lessons learned of Quebec nurses who blew the whistle during the first wave of COVID‐19 as a case study. More specifically, to explore why and how nurses blew the whistle, what types of wrongdoing triggered their decision to do so and how context shaped the whistleblowing process as well as its consequences (including perceived consequences). Design: The study followed a single‐case study design with three embedded units of analysis. Methods: We used content analysis to analyse 83 news stories and 597 forms posted on a whistleblowing online platform. We also conducted 15 semi‐structured interviews with nurses and analysed this data using a thematic analysis approach. Finally, we triangulated the findings. Results: We identified five themes across the case study. (1) During the first wave of COVID‐19, Quebec nurses experienced a shifting sense of loyalty and relationship to workplace culture. (2) They witnessed exceedingly high numbers of intersecting wrongdoings amplified by mismanagement and long‐standing issues. (3) They reported a lack of trust and transparency; thus, a need for external whistleblowing. (4) They used whistleblowing to reclaim their rights (notably, the right to speak) and build collective solidarity. (5) Finally, they saw whistleblowing as an act of moral courage in the face of a system in crisis. Together, these themes elucidate why and how nurse whistleblowing is different in pandemic times. Conclusion: Our findings offer a more nuanced understanding of nurse whistleblowing and address important gaps in knowledge. They also highlight the need to rethink external whistleblowing, develop whistleblowing tools and advocate for whistleblowing protection. Impact In many ways, the COVID‐19 pandemic has challenged our foundational understanding of whistleblowing and, as a result, it has limited the usefulness of existing literature on the topic for reasons that will be brought to light in this paper. We believe that studying the uniqueness of whistleblowing during a pandemic can address this gap by describing why and how health care workers blow the whistle during a pandemic and situating this experience within a broader social, political, organizational context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accessible Summary: What is known on the subject?: There is only limited information on how the COVID‐19 pandemic has affected people diagnosed with mental health disorders, especially people admitted to psychiatric wards.We surveyed the views of inpatients at Qatar's only psychiatric hospital regarding how the pandemic had affected their mental health and social changes they had experienced during the pandemic. What the paper adds to existing knowledge?: Nearly half (43%) of those who completed the survey reported that the pandemic had led to a deterioration in their mental health.Those who reported deterioration in their mental health during the pandemic were significantly more likely to have experienced negative social changes during the pandemic. Examples included increased stress from the home and reduced ability to discuss emotions/feelings with family members. What are the implications for practice?: Mental health services need to ensure ongoing support for patients during and after the pandemic. Mental health nurses have a pivotal role including identifying early warning signs of relapse of mental disorders, delivering talking treatments and providing practical advice and COVID‐19‐related education.Further work is needed to assess the views of people diagnosed with mental health problems in different countries and at a different time point during the pandemic. Introduction: The impact of the COVID‐19 pandemic on people under the care of mental health services has received relatively little attention in the scientific literature. Aim: To assess psychiatric inpatients' views regarding their mental health and experience of social change during the pandemic. Method: Cross‐sectional survey of consecutive patients admitted to Qatar's only psychiatric hospital between mid‐June and mid‐October 2020. Results: Data were analysed for 114/284 (40%) patients admitted during the study period. 8 (7%) reported a history of COVID‐19. 43% reported that the pandemic had led to deterioration in their mental health, 11% to an improvement and 39% that there had been no attributable change. Those reporting worsened mental health, attributable to the pandemic, were significantly more likely to report having experienced four negative social changes during the pandemic, namely reduced ability to discuss emotions/feelings with family members, decreased time spent exercising, decreased time spent relaxing and increased stress from the home. Demographic factors did not distinguish those reporting worsened mental health from those whose mental health was improved or unchanged. Discussion: A large proportion of psychiatric inpatients reported negative social and mental health changes during the pandemic. However, the study cannot determine causality. Implications for practice: Mental health services should consider the psychological and social aspects of people's lives, including their interactions with family, friends and the community. This is especially relevant during the COVID‐19 pandemic due to its wide impact on society. Interventions for people diagnosed with mental health disorders should address their psychological and social needs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To summarise the psychological impacts of social isolation amongst older adults during COVID-19 and review the benefits and limitations of online interventions used to combat social isolation. Design: A scoping review was performed. Data Sources: A systematic search was performed from October 2020 to January 2021 in seven electronic databases: China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), PubMed, EMBASE, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), PsycINFO, Cochrane Library and Web of Science. A hand search of the reference lists of included papers and WHO publications was performed. Grey literature search was carried out from Scopus, ProQuest Dissertation and Google Scholar. Review Methods: Studies were screened, appraised and extracted independently by two reviewers. Thematic analysis was used to synthesise data, which were presented in a descriptive manner and organised into categories and themes. Results: Totally, 33 studies were included. Four themes and eight sub-themes emerged: (1) negative impacts and experiences of older adults during social isolation, (2) adopting coping behaviours in the midst of COVID-19, (3) online interventions to combat the consequences of social isolation, (4) barriers to online intervention. Conclusion: The COVID-19 pandemic has taken an emotional toll on older adults' psychological wellbeing and has highlighted the untapped strengths of older adults facing isolation. Online interventions, which could be a new normal in the COVID era, were beneficial in combating social isolation. Strategies by various stakeholders were recommended to tackle the barriers of online interventions. Impact: With the COVID-19 pandemic still in progress, this review provides insights on the psychological impacts of social isolation amongst older adults. Nurses in the community and long-term care facilities could adopt strategies and online intervention to better support the older adults, contribute to a stronger COVID-19 response and support system, and an overall better road to recovery from this crisis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The COVID-19 pandemic is compounding the distress of millions of refugees (made up of displaced persons, forced migrants, refugees and asylum seekers) throughout the world. This discursive paper pitches a challenge for the global nursing profession, within the multidisciplinary context, to consider its collective agency in responding to the health and well-being needs of a priority portion of the global population. Nursing leaders are encouraged to renew their commitment to the International Council of Nurses' Code of Ethics and consider the role of their profession in assisting global refugees, because the extent of present need has become an escalating major global humanitarian crisis. The nursing profession comprises half the world's healthcare workforce. The World Health Organization considers that nurses play a fundamental role in ensuring access to universal healthcare as a basic human right, addressing the global need for health promotion care, disease prevention and primary and community healthcare (International Council of Nurses, The ICN code of ethics for nurses; 2012). It is a human right to seek asylum from persecution, and in doing so, people should not be subjected to cruel, inhumane or degrading treatment or circumstances. Nurses are increasingly interested in fostering a healthy and adaptive environment in which people can thrive, despite personal, political, emotional, physical or social adversity. Nursing care is indispensable for the easement of human distress and for the promotion of comfort and coping. Nurses have an essential role in advocating for policies that will enhance immigrants' access to health/mental health services and address barriers irrespective of migrant/refugee/asylum seeker status. These are challenging times as the world responds to the pandemic crisis, and nurses are called to rise to global and local leadership roles and join with other health and social care colleagues in addressing the universal human health, social and political crisis of our time. The global nursing collective must come to terms with the need to initiate additional compelling ways to improve and integrate health and social care processes so that nursing care, mental health and social care augment a holistic achievement of appropriate care for refugees. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim and objective: We explored the experiences of nurses who cared for coronavirus disease 2019 patients in Iraqi Kurdistan. Background: Nurses play a major role in response to pandemics and epidemics in delivering patient care. The experiences of nurses who provided care have significant short and long‐term consequences for individuals, communities, and the nursing profession. Methods: Descriptive qualitative research approach was adopted in this study. We interviewed 12 nurses (22–50 years) who cared for the coronavirus disease 2019 patients in one of the clinical units of two coronavirus disease 2019 hospitals in Iraqi Kurdistan in 2020. Interviews were conducted via phone calls and were analysed using the thematic analysis method. The Consolidated criteria for reporting qualitative research checklist was applied when constructing this paper. Results: The nurses had to care for a number of situations during the outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 in Kurdistan. As people in the public did not believe that there was such a virus, nurses often had to deal with this lack of knowledge and aggression from some patients and their family members. Most nurses changed their preventive behaviours since the coronavirus disease 2019 outbreak at hospital or in public. This was mainly to protect not only themselves but their patients, colleagues, family members and friends. They were cautious about the use of a mask at the hospital and in public. Most nurses experienced fear, stress, anxiety and isolation during this period. Conclusions: The patients had some concerns about their health and staying at hospitals, and some of them had aggressive behaviours towards nurses at corona hospitals. The public, close friends and relatives of the nurses had a fear of getting the infection by the virus through the nurses. However, the nurses attempted to protect themselves, colleagues and family members, and provide the best care to coronavirus disease 2019 patients. The nurses had a high obligation towards care giving at hospitals. Relevance to clinical practice: The negative experiences of the nurses regarding the care of coronavirus disease 2019 patients must be considered in clinical settings. Sensitive policy programs must be established to protect nurses from the ostracization and stigmatization of the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic and to allow them to be able to achieve their professional practices safely. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To design and present a new communication model "TAGEET" to help nurses engage therapeutically with patients suspected of or confirmed with COVID‐19. Background: COVID‐19 is a highly contagious disease that brings with it fear and anxiety for all involved inclusive of nurses and patients. New guidelines for nurses to follow such as attention to physical distance coupled with the wearing of defined personal protective equipment, gloves, long‐sleeved disposable gown, FFP2 face mask and eye protection place additional strain on nurses to engage therapeutically with patients. Evidence suggests that the wearing of face masks and personal protective equipment acts as barriers to effective therapeutic engagement with patients. We found an absence of communication models to help nurses engage therapeutically with patients. Design: This is a position paper that draws on previous research to inform the design of a new model for nurses to engage therapeutically with patients suspected of or confirmed with COVID‐19. Method: We reviewed the literature on caring for patients in isolation, the barriers to therapeutic communication and the psychological impact of infectious diseases on nurses and patients. Conclusion: Remaining emotionally present to self, whilst being present to others can be challenging for nurses in a pandemic environment. We believe that the "TAGEET" model (T—Tune‐in, A—Approach and introduce, G—Ground self, E—Engage and respond, E—End encounter, T—Tune‐out), although devised for nurses to engage therapeutically with patients suspected of or confirmed with COVID‐19 could be used by all healthcare professionals in any challenging clinical environment. Relevance to clinical practice: This new therapeutic communication model will provide support for nurses with how to manage self in the context of caring for others in a COVID‐19 environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]