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Experiences of U.S. Nurses Compared With Nonnurses in the First Year of COVID-19: Findings From a National Registry.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Chen-Lim, ML; McCabe, MA; Xu, H; Thomas, LE; Forrest, CB; Birnbaum, S; Webb, LE; O'Brien, EC
Published in: Nurs Res
November 2022

BACKGROUND: Nursing professional organizations and media sources indicated early in the pandemic that the physical and psychological effects of COVID-19 might be distinct and possibly greater in nurses than in other types of healthcare workers (HCWs). OBJECTIVES: Based on survey data collected in Healthcare Worker Exposure Response and Outcomes (HERO), a national registry of U.S. HCWs, this study compared the self-reported experiences of nurses with other HCWs during the first 13 months of the pandemic. METHODS: Nurse responses were compared to responses of nonnurse HCWs in terms of viral exposure, testing and infection, access to personal protective equipment (PPE), burnout, and well-being. Logistic regression models were used to examine associations between nurse and nonnurse roles for the binary end points of viral testing and test positivity for COVID-19. We also examined differences by race/ethnicity and high-risk versus low-risk practice settings. RESULTS: Of 24,343 HCWs in the registry, one third self-identified as nurses. Nurses were more likely than other HCWs to report exposure to SARS-CoV-2, problems accessing PPE, and decreased personal well-being, including burnout, feeling tired, stress, trouble sleeping, and worry. In adjusted models, nurses were more likely than nonnurse HCWs to report viral testing and test positivity for COVID-19 infection. Nurses in high-risk settings were more likely to report viral exposure and symptoms related to well-being; nurses in low-risk settings were more likely to report viral testing and test positivity. Black or Hispanic nurses were most likely to report test positivity. DISCUSSION: Differences were identified between nurses and nonnurse HCWs in access to PPE, physical and mental well-being measures, and likelihood of reporting exposure and infection. Among nurses, testing and infection differed based on race and ethnicity, and type of work setting. Our findings suggest further research and policy are needed to elucidate and address social and occupational disparities.

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Published In

Nurs Res

DOI

EISSN

1538-9847

Publication Date

November 2022

Volume

71

Issue

6

Start / End Page

421 / 431

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • SARS-CoV-2
  • Registries
  • Personal Protective Equipment
  • Pandemics
  • Nursing
  • Humans
  • Health Personnel
  • COVID-19
  • Burnout, Professional
  • 4205 Nursing
 

Citation

APA
Chicago
ICMJE
MLA
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Chen-Lim, M. L., McCabe, M. A., Xu, H., Thomas, L. E., Forrest, C. B., Birnbaum, S., … O’Brien, E. C. (2022). Experiences of U.S. Nurses Compared With Nonnurses in the First Year of COVID-19: Findings From a National Registry. Nurs Res, 71(6), 421–431. https://doi.org/10.1097/NNR.0000000000000610
Chen-Lim, Mei Lin, Margaret A. McCabe, Haolin Xu, Laine E. Thomas, Christopher B. Forrest, Shira Birnbaum, Laura E. Webb, and Emily C. O’Brien. “Experiences of U.S. Nurses Compared With Nonnurses in the First Year of COVID-19: Findings From a National Registry.Nurs Res 71, no. 6 (November 2022): 421–31. https://doi.org/10.1097/NNR.0000000000000610.
Chen-Lim ML, McCabe MA, Xu H, Thomas LE, Forrest CB, Birnbaum S, et al. Experiences of U.S. Nurses Compared With Nonnurses in the First Year of COVID-19: Findings From a National Registry. Nurs Res. 2022 Nov;71(6):421–31.
Chen-Lim, Mei Lin, et al. “Experiences of U.S. Nurses Compared With Nonnurses in the First Year of COVID-19: Findings From a National Registry.Nurs Res, vol. 71, no. 6, Nov. 2022, pp. 421–31. Pubmed, doi:10.1097/NNR.0000000000000610.
Chen-Lim ML, McCabe MA, Xu H, Thomas LE, Forrest CB, Birnbaum S, Webb LE, O’Brien EC. Experiences of U.S. Nurses Compared With Nonnurses in the First Year of COVID-19: Findings From a National Registry. Nurs Res. 2022 Nov;71(6):421–431.

Published In

Nurs Res

DOI

EISSN

1538-9847

Publication Date

November 2022

Volume

71

Issue

6

Start / End Page

421 / 431

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • SARS-CoV-2
  • Registries
  • Personal Protective Equipment
  • Pandemics
  • Nursing
  • Humans
  • Health Personnel
  • COVID-19
  • Burnout, Professional
  • 4205 Nursing