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. 2022 Apr 17;19(8):4885.
doi: 10.3390/ijerph19084885.

Early Nurse Management Experiences from Finnish COVID-19 Hubs: An In-Action Review

Mari S Nevala  1 , Satu Vuorela  1
Affiliations

Early Nurse Management Experiences from Finnish COVID-19 Hubs: An In-Action Review

Mari S Nevala et al. Int J Environ Res Public Health. .

Abstract

Primary healthcare (PHC) clinics are the point of access for many COVID-19 patients; however, the focus of crisis response work has been in securing hospital capacities. The purpose of this study was to describe the early nurse management experiences from PHC clinics within Greater Helsinki dedicated to caring for all ambulatory patients with possible COVID-19 symptoms. The study objectives were to make PHC crisis response contributions known and to provide an in-action review (IAR) of crisis response efforts. Nurse managers from the four COVID-19 hubs in Greater Helsinki were interviewed using thematic pair interviews. The data were analyzed inductively using thematic analysis, by which four main themes emerged: (1) capacity development led to a state of flux, (2) infection prevention control (IPC) was critical, (3) management of staff was essential in facilitating crisis response, and (4) respondents' personal experiences. The state of flux stressed the provision of PHC services, but quick developments in telemedicine eased that burden. Conversation surrounding IPC was extensive, though discrepancies suggest that global efforts to standardize IPC practices must begin locally. Leadership was adjusted to accommodate for the crisis, especially regarding the motivation of staff. A vision to aspire toward in crisis recovery is needed.

Keywords: COVID-19 ambulatory care; crisis management; in-action review; nurse management; primary healthcare.

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Conflict of interest statement

The author has been employed by two of the four targeted PHC clinics during normal operations and knew one respondent personally. This may have influenced the author’s interest in the study but is not considered to have a role in the design of the study; in the collection, analyses, or interpretation of data; in the writing of the manuscript; or in the decision to publish the results.

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