gms | German Medical Science

Background: The sudden massive outbreak of covid-19 overwhelmed healthcare systems, including district nursing care. It is unclear what impact covid-19 had on district nursing care.

Objectives: To identify the impact of the covid-19 pandemic on district nurses and their patients in the Netherlands, the impact on organisational level and perceived challenges.

Design and methods: A nationwide qualitative study. In total, 38 district nurses working as ambassadors for district nursing care in The Netherlands were interviewed via telephone by 13 interviewers in April 2020. A semi-structured interview guide was developed. The interviewers wrote a recap after the interviews following a structured guide. These recaps were analysed using thematic analysis.

Results: Four themes were identified:

1.

Impact on daily care, including changes in care organisation and using personal protective equipment;

2.

Impact on patient and professional, including fear for contamination with covid-19;

3.

Impact on district nurses, including the impact on their time and energy, changes in leadership and their role within the care organisation, and psychosocial consequences and mental support;

4.

Future needs, including their fears for the future, role and cooperation with other care professionals, and needed changes on organisational and national level.

Conclusions: The covid-19 pandemic had a substantial impact on district nursing care on patient, professional, organisational and national level. While the impact varied between different organisations, all interviewed nurses expressed their concerns about covid-19 in the community. Changes on organisational and national level are needed to prepare for future problems caused by the pandemic.

Disclosure of potential conflict of interest: None

Source of funding: None