Empoderamiento de las enfermeras durante la pandemia de COVID 19 en una unidad de nueva creación

Abstract

Objective: to explore the empowerment experience of nurses at a Semi-critical Care Unit created during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic at the Fundación Althaia hospital, and to understand the influential factors. Method: a qualitative phenomenological study conducted from March to May 2020. The 25 nurses who had worked in the unit for continuous periods of at least two weeks were included. There was purposive sampling of different demographic and occupational profiles until data saturation. Participant observation was conducted for eight weeks, and semistructured interviews after unit closure. The latent contents were analysed with support by the Atlas Ti software, version 8.4, and investigator triangulation. Results: eight nurses were interviewed; 37 codes were determined, distributed in nine groups and two final subjects. They reported an increase in empowerment. The driving factors for this were identified as: teamwork, learning, awareness of the holistic vision of Nursing, impact on organization, social and institutional recognition, and moral duty. The hindering factors found were: initial lack of knowledge, material and structural resources, and the institutional support received. Conclusions: structural, psychological and relational factors were identified as having impact on nursing empowerment. These findings can contribute to improving the organization of health services and nursing care in similar situations.