Holding huddles during a shift helped to keep nurses informed of hospital-wide and unit-based updates and allowed staff to express their concerns and ask questions. Photo by James Derek Dwyer / Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center.

It’s well-known that nurses are facing relentless pressure and challenges due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and it doesn’t seem to be resolving anytime soon. While we know that short-staffing is a huge problem and needs to be addressed, hospitals also need to adopt strategies in the here and now to alleviate some of these stressors. AJN recently published several articles detailing the creation and employment of such strategies.

One such article, “Supporting Frontline Staff During the COVID-19 Pandemic,” can be found in our September issue. In the article, nurse leaders from Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston describe the challenges nursing staff faced during the COVID-19 surge in the spring of 2020 and the actions taken to support them.

Here are some takeaways for supporting direct care nurses based on their initiative:

  • Prepare nursing staff for redeployment early with standardized education and clear expectations.
  • Check in with redeployed staff frequently to reduce the sense of isolation and ease anxiety.
  • Once a nurse is redeployed, keep the nurse on the same unit when possible so they can build rapport with the staff there.
  • Hold huddles during the shift to update staff on changes, and debriefing sessions to offer the opportunity for those who need moral and psychological support to receive it.
  • Include other disciplines such as social work and clergy to help staff process their emotions.
  • Create a space, such as a “Zen den,” for brief moments of relaxation mid-shift in order to give staff the opportunity to rest and recharge.

By Christine Moffa, PhD, APRN, PMHNP-BC, AJN senior clinical editor