The Lived Experiences of Emergency Nurses During COVID-19 Pandemic

This assignment outlines a qualitative research study exploring the experiences of Emergency Department (ED) nurses while treating patients with COVID-19 in a Sydney metropolitan hospital. The study employs a hermeneutic phenomenology approach, utilizing face-to-face interviews with 12 ED nurses selected through purposive sampling. The research aims to answer the question: “What are the lived experiences of Emergency nurses while treating patients with Covid-19 in Sydney metropolitan Hospital?” The study will analyze the collected data to identify key themes and understand the nurses' perceptions. Ethical considerations include obtaining informed consent, ensuring voluntary participation, maintaining confidentiality, and addressing potential psychological distress. The limitations of the study include a small sample size, which may limit the generalizability of the findings. The study aims to contribute to a deeper understanding of the challenges and experiences faced by ED nurses during the pandemic.

Running head: The COVID-19 pandemic
The COVID-19 pandemic
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

1
The COVID-19 pandemic
Context/perspective of this research
In late December 2019 an undiscovered pneumonia cluster has been found in Wuhan,
China (Wu & McGoogan, 2020). A few days later, the novel causes of this mysterious
pneumonia were identified as a corona virus (Bai et al., 2020). This causative virus was
momentarily alluded to as severe acute respiratory syndrome 2, which was renamed corona-virus
disease (COVID-19) 2019 by the World Health Organisation. The COVID-19 outbreak is
already spreading across China and around the world. Corona viruses are an extremely stable
RNA virus population, with a favourable envelope (World Health Organization 2020). Since
March 2020, the Corona virus (COVID-19) became recognised and extended to many countries
and territories as a global public health issue. With the spreading of COVID-19, it is important
for communities to take measures to avoid more disclosure, raising the effects of the disease and
promote preventive efforts (Zhou et al., 2020). Particular emphasis has been assigned in
securing children and education facilities due to this epidemic.
As of today, the novel corona virus disease 2019 (COVID-19) had caused 1,529,975
human infections and 89,427 deaths worldwide, including more than 3000 infections among
medical staff. The possibility of contamination with COVID-19 will trigger severe psycho-
social stress for healthcare staff. Unfortunately, several young medical personnel who were
infected with COVID-19, whose cases seem to have recently deteriorated and died mildly at the
early stage of the disease, have added more fears of the virus (Huang et al., 2020). The
complexity of their jobs raises the risk of communicable diseases, like COVID-19, for healthcare
employees. If large numbers fall sick during an epidemic crisis, the very elevated degree of
burden on the healthcare sector is exacerbated. That is why it is so critical for patients to be
easily detected and separated and has access to security equipment. Care staff devote a lot of

2
The COVID-19 pandemic
time in near partnership with the individual performing high-risk practice (cdc.gov, 2020).
Emergency department doctors and nurses are drenched with sweat and essential care nurses
searching for safety gear have rapidly come to personify the courage and catastrophe of the
corona virus pandemic. The complexity of their job puts healthcare staff at an elevated risk of
contracting some communicable illness, like COVID-19. Health staffs are at the frontline of the
epidemic response and are also susceptible to risks of disease-pathogen infection (in this
situation, COVID-19). The threats include illnesses, work long hours, psychological deprivation,
tiredness, workplace burnout, loneliness and psychological distress (Who.int, 2020). Most
contaminated COVID-19 patients come first to an emergency hospital (ED) unit. ED nurses are
also the first healthcare workers to take charge of current infected patients. In addition, during
the COVID-19 epidemic, there were many instances of exposure to the EDs. ED nurses
experience hectic, volatile and constantly shifting conditions relative to nurses in other fields
(Who.int, 2020). As they contend with various illnesses, stressful experiences and immediate
circumstances, they don't have much time to rest and thus put themselves into significant stress
and anxiety. As a consequence, ED nurses in many medical units are reported to suffer from
much more burnout than other nurses. Burnout is a long-term effect of long-term exposure to
such work pressures, as well as a response when someone can no longer tolerate the discomfort
they experience (Kim & Choi, 2016). Health care staffs are also at risk because people with
COVID-19 are not detected rapidly. Thus, this qualitative research will explore the experiences
of Emergency Department (ED) nurses while treating patients with COVID-19 by conducting
interviews and knowing their perceptions regarding the same in the Sydney metropolitan
Hospital.

3
The COVID-19 pandemic
Research question
The qualitative paper will explore the experiences of the Emergency Department nurses
while treating patients with COVID-19. Thus the research question is “What are the lived
experiences of Emergency nurses while treating patients with Covid-19 in Sydney metropolitan
Hospital?”
Methodology:
Study design: This is a qualitative study that will be conducted using hermeneutic
phenomenology approach to explore the experiences of Emergency Department (ED) nurses
while treating patients with COVID-19 by conducting interviews and knowing their perceptions
regarding the same in the Sydney metropolitan Hospital. Hermeneutic phenomenology involves
gathering lived experience of a particular group (focus group) that enables profound
understanding of the phenomenon. Hermeneutic phenomenology has been chosen for the study.
This is because Hermeneutic phenomenology is regarding the nature of life or the perception of
the human being. Throughout the perception that can be viewed as apparent across the
experience, the focus point is to highlight information and even insignificant things to build
context and a sense of awareness and understanding. This research will focus at creating an
understanding of the lived experience of the ED nurses and thus, this method will help in
understanding of their perception and gathering knowledge regarding the same.
Study population and eligibility criteria: A total of 12 Emergency nurses of Sydney
metropolitan Hospital will be included in the study following Purposive sampling method. Thus,
the focus group will be 12 ED nurses and they will be chosen based on their involvement in the
ED. The chosen participants will be all registered ED nurses and have highest qualification. They

4
The COVID-19 pandemic
must also be in charge of many COVID-19 patients. They all will be informed before conducting
the research and informed consent will be taken from all the participants. Each of the ED nurses
will be informed about the purpose of the study following which written consent will be taken.
Sampling method: Purposive sampling method will be followed while selecting the
participants. ED nurses have been chosen for the study because they are mostly involved in the
patient care and they are more exposed to the infection. Purposive sampling (also referred to as
judgement, selective or subjective sampling) is a sampling method that is focused on researchers'
judgement when choosing participants to engage in a study. Purposive sampling is an unusual
sampling process which happens when components chosen for the collection are identified by
the researchers' judgment. Purposive sampling is also assumed to produce a representative
sample using a rational judgement that saves time and money. Conversely, a purposive sampling
method can prove successful if the purpose and objectives of the research design and only a
small number of people can be used as primary data sources. Target sampling is one of the most
inexpensive and time effective approaches used for sampling (Ames, Glenton & Lewin, 2019).
Purposive sampling may be the only approach possible if a few primary data points are present
and may lead to the analysis. This method may be productive to investigate anthropological
circumstances in which an intuitive methodology should be utilized to explore significance
(Palinkas et al., 2015). Thus, this sampling method will be used in the study to involve
participants based on some criteria mentioned above.

5
The COVID-19 pandemic
Data collection: All the participants will be interviewed face-to-face in a separate room and
their responses will be recorded with the help of a tape recorder. During the interview they will
be asked open ended questions and also about the precautions they are undertaking to save
themselves and their families. Perhaps the most common and oldest method of data collection in
qualitative researches is the face-to-face interview, often called an interview in person. It is also
the safest method of data collection if one wants to eliminate non-response and optimize data
efficiency. Face-to-face interviews are also used to inquire for details in initiatives that may be
deemed very sensitive. While online and mobile surveys have become increasingly common,
face-to-face interviews are still a traditional form of data collection. Face-to-face interviews
assist for a more reliable screening process. There is no denying that a face-to-face interview can
collect verbal and non-verbal ques, but this approach often allows the capturing of non-verbal
ques, like body language, and can suggest a degree of discomfort with the queries. On the other
side, it may also suggest a lack of interest for the subjects addressed in the interview. Face-to-
face interviews will certainly catch the feelings and actions of the interviewee. Moreover, the
research aims at exploring the perception of nurses regarding the management of COVID-19
patients, thus, the research will use face-to-face interviews to create an understanding of the
perception of the ED nurses regarding the same.
Data Analysis: Their responses will be recorded and recording of each participant will be
listened from the tape recorder and transcripts will be made that were further analysed to identify
the key points they are addressing. Their responses will be recorded so that none of the points or
responses stated by them are missed somehow. Also, transcripts will help keep a track of their
responses and find the common themes they are addressing.

6
The COVID-19 pandemic
Study limitation: The sample size is very small for Generalizability of data and hence, the
data findings cannot be applied to any other local population. The data findings cannot be
applied to a wider population and thus, the research hypothesis may not be generalized.
Ethical considerations: Written consent will be taken from all the participants after
informing them about the study. The study will also be approved by the institutional head. All
the participants will be informed about the purpose of the study and they all must participate
voluntarily. Voluntary participation ensures that individuals engage free of coercion in the
analysis. Participants will be entitled to quit at any point without negative effects for their
interest in prospective programmes or in the existing programme. They have the right to either
participate or withdraw from the study. Thus, the focus group of 12 ED nurses will take part in
the study voluntarily. All answers will be kept private and no questions will be posed that would
trigger their psychological discomfort, anxiety and a decline in self-esteem. All of the responses
will be kept confidential. The participants will be asked relevant questions and no other sensitive
inquiries will be asked that could impede or harm their privacy. They will be given an
introductory session on the purpose and rationale behind conducting this study. They will only
be involved when they will show interest and will agree to participate in this study. The head of
the organization will also be informed and permission will be obtained from him about the
research to be performed in the hospital prior to their participation in the process.
Demonstrating rigor in qualitative experiments is important to ensuring that study results
of "integrity" have an effect on practice, policy or both. Reliable analysis technique usually
includes questioning and/or studying individuals who are fundamental to the research subject

7
The COVID-19 pandemic
(Ghafouri & Ofoghi, 2016). The data generated are typically (though not always) in the form of a
text that details what the interviewees said and/or did. The results are then interpreted, sometimes
by the individual questioned or examined, adding to the possibility of subjectivity and prejudice.
Qualitative experiments have also been questioned for lack of rigor, clarity, rationale for the
compilation of data and the forms of research used. However, this research will be free of any
bias or confounding factors (Hadi & Closs, 2016). The research will use Hermeneutic
phenomenology approach and thus, will take into account the perception of the participants and
their beliefs, thus, enabling a deeper understanding of the issue. Also, the study will explain a
natural phenomenon and will lead to a hypothesis based on the research area. The data collection
process that will be used here will serve as authentic since it involves primary data collected
from the ED nurses, who will be able to provide relevant data on this study. The methodology
chosen to conduct this study is also rigorous and will provide relevant research findings.

8
The COVID-19 pandemic
References
Ames, H., Glenton, C., & Lewin, S. (2019). Purposive sampling in a qualitative evidence
synthesis: a worked example from a synthesis on parental perceptions of vaccination
communication. BMC medical research methodology, 19(1), 26.
Bai, Y., Yao, L., Wei, T., Tian, F., Jin, D.Y., Chen, L. & Wang, M. (2020). Presumed
asymptomatic carrier transmission of COVID-19. Jama.
cdc.gov. (2020). Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). Retrieved 9 April 2020, from
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-nCoV/hcp/index.html?CDC_AA_refVal=https
%3A%2F%2Fwww.cdc.gov%2Fcoronavirus%2F2019-ncov%2Fhcp%2Fcaring-for-
patients.html
Ghafouri, R., & Ofoghi, S. (2016). Trustworth and rigor in qualitative research. International
Journal of Advanced Biotechnology and Research, 7(4), 1914-1922.
Hadi, M. A., & Closs, S. J. (2016). Ensuring rigour and trustworthiness of qualitative research in
clinical pharmacy. International journal of clinical pharmacy, 38(3), 641-646.
Huang, L., Lin, G., Tang, L., Yu, L., & Zhou, Z. (2020). Special attention to nurses’ protection
during the COVID-19 epidemic.
Kim, J. S., & Choi, J. S. (2016). Factors influencing emergency nurses' burnout during an
outbreak of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus in Korea. Asian nursing
research, 10(4), 295-299.
Palinkas, L. A., Horwitz, S. M., Green, C. A., Wisdom, J. P., Duan, N., & Hoagwood, K. (2015).
Purposeful sampling for qualitative data collection and analysis in mixed method

9
The COVID-19 pandemic
implementation research. Administration and policy in mental health and mental health
services research, 42(5), 533-544.
Who.int. (2020). Mental health and psychosocial considerations during the COVID-19 outbreak.
Retrieved 9 April 2020, from
https://www.who.int/docs/default-source/coronaviruse/mental-health-considerations.pdf
World Health Organization. (2020). Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19): situation report, 67.
Wu, Z. & McGoogan, J.M. (2020). Characteristics of and important lessons from the coronavirus
disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak in China: summary of a report of 72 314 cases from
the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Jama.
Zhou, F., Yu, T., Du, R., Fan, G., Liu, Y., Liu, Z., Xiang, J., Wang, Y., Song, B., Gu, X. &
Guan, L. (2020). Clinical course and risk factors for mortality of adult inpatients with
COVID-19 in Wuhan, China: a retrospective cohort study. The Lancet.