References

Alexander CA, Wang L. Public health promotion: autonomy of the emergency nurse practitioner. Int J Publ Health Sci.. 2015; 4:(1)27-36 https://doi.org/10.11591/.v4i1.4708

Aziz AM. Infection prevention and control practitioners: improving engagement. Br J Nurs.. 2016; 25:(6)297-302 https://doi.org/10.12968/bjon.2016.25.6.297

Beysard N, Yersin B, Meylan P, Hugli O, Carron PN. Impact of the 2014–2015 influenza season on the activity of an academic emergency department. Intern Emerg Med. 2018; 13:(2)251-256 https://doi.org/10.1007/s11739-017-1606-z

Boyle A, Coleman J, Sultan Y Initial validation of the International Crowding Measure in Emergency Departments (ICMED) to measure emergency department crowding. Emerg Med J. 2015; 32:(2)105-108 https://doi.org/10.1136/emermed-2013-202849

Bradshaw C, Atkinson S, Doody O. Employing a qualitative description approach in health care research. Glob Qual Nurs Res. 2017; 4 https://doi.org/10.1177/2333393617742282

Braun V, Clarke V. Using thematic analysis in psychology. Qual Res Psychol. 2006; 3:(2)77-101 https://doi.org/10.1191/1478088706qp063oa

Colorafi KJ, Evans B. Qualitative descriptive methods in health science research. HERD. 2016; 9:(4)16-25 https://doi.org/10.1177/1937586715614171

Etikan I, Musa SA, Alkassim RS. Comparison of convenience sampling and purposive sampling. Am J Theor Appl Stat. 2016; 5:(1)1-4 https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajtas.20160501.11

Kallio H, Pietilä AM, Johnson M, Kangasniemi M. Systematic methodological review: developing a framework for a qualitative semi-structured interview guide. J Adv Nurs.. 2016; 72:(12)2954-2965 https://doi.org/10.1111/jan.13031

Kang HS, Son YD, Chae SM, Corte C. Working experiences of nurses during the Middle East respiratory syndrome outbreak. Int J Nurs Pract.. 2018; 24:(5) https://doi.org/10.1111/ijn.12664

Lam SKK, Kwong EWY, Hung MSY, Pang SMC. Bridging the gap between guidelines and practice in the management of emerging infectious diseases: a qualitative study of emergency nurses. J Clin Nurs.. 2016; 25:(19-20)2895-2905 https://doi.org/10.1111/jocn.13343

Lam SKK, Kwong EWY, Hung MSY, Pang SMC, Chiang VCL. Nurses' preparedness for infectious disease outbreaks: a literature review and narrative synthesis of qualitative evidence. J Clin Nurs.. 2018; 27:(7-8)e1244-e1255 https://doi.org/10.1111/jocn.14210

Lankshear S, Rush J, Weeres A, Martin D. Enhancing role clarity for the practical nurse: a leadership imperative. J Nurs Adm. 2016; 46:(6)300-307 https://doi.org/10.1097/NNA.0000000000000349

McMullan C, Brown GD, O'Sullivan D. Preparing to respond: Irish nurses' perceptions of preparedness for an influenza pandemic. Int Emerg Nurs.. 2016; 26:3-7 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ienj.2015.10.004

Venkat A, Wolf L, Geiderman JM Ethical issues in the response to Ebola virus disease in US emergency departments: a position paper of the American College of Emergency Physicians, the Emergency Nurses Association and the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine. J Emerg Nurs.. 2015; 41:(2)e5-e16 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jen.2015.01.012

World Medical Association Declaration of Helsinki: ethical principles for medical research involving human subjects. JAMA. 2013; 310:(20)2191-2194 https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.2013.28105

Emergency nurses' perceptions of their roles and practices during epidemics: a qualitative study

25 April 2019
Professional
02 April 2019
Volume 28 · Issue 8

Abstract

Background:

although emergency nurses have a pivotal role in the public health response to epidemics, little is known about their responsibilities and practice in terms of epidemic management.

Aims:

this study aimed to explore how emergency nurses understand and perform their professional roles and practice during epidemics.

Methods:

a qualitative descriptive study design was used. Data were collected from 24 participants through semistructured interviews and subjected to thematic analysis.

Findings:

the analysis yielded two overarching themes: expansion in the practice of emergency care; and the altered role of emergency nurses.

Conclusion:

emergency nurses perceive their practice during the management of an epidemic expanded in that they shouldered a greater responsibility in the control of infectious diseases. This expansion led to role ambiguity among them.

Emergency departments (EDs) provide the general public with access to medical services and are often considered an interface between the healthcare system and the community (Boyle et al, 2015). The availability and accessibility of EDs leads to a surge in demand on them during an epidemic, which challenges their capacity to deal with it (Beysard et al, 2018). During an epidemic, the function of an ED is expected to expand beyond the provision of emergency care to play a role in public health services (Lam et al, 2016).

The increase in demand on emergency services during an epidemic also increases the importance of the pivotal role played by emergency nurses in a public health response, as they have close, frequent contact with people using emergency healthcare services (Venkat et al, 2015). To ensure the smooth provision and functioning of services during an epidemic, these professionals must competently adjust to the demands of emergency services and demonstrate nurses' ability to respond to disease situations using their skills, abilities and knowledge of infection prevention and control and disease management.

Register now to continue reading

Thank you for visiting British Journal of Nursing and reading some of our peer-reviewed resources for nurses. To read more, please register today. You’ll enjoy the following great benefits:

What's included

  • Limited access to clinical or professional articles

  • Unlimited access to the latest news, blogs and video content

Register
Or continue by

Signing in with your registered email address

Epidemic
Emergency nurses
Emergency care
Qualitative study