Critical care nurses have been essential to the efforts to quell the impact that COVID-19 has had on our society, as well as treating the patients that the virus has affected. Life in this role is always varied and challenging, however, the pandemic has made this even more apparent. Many critical care nurses have found themselves stretched like never before with the additional pressures of their own health and safety and significantly increased patient volumes; and yet, the dedication of these professionals has never wavered.
 

The logistical element of COVID-19

 
Critical care nurses are usually providing care to patients individually with one nurse per ITU patient. However, during the pandemic each nurse has been responsible for three or four patients at a time, which has put huge pressure on those in the role and required significant resilience and resourcefulness. Capacity in intensive care units has had to increase substantially - most now have more than double the number of patients to cope with and yet also ensure that their usual high standards never drop. This takes incredible dedication, not just when it comes to the overall efficiency of the ward, but also the experience that individual patients have. When you add to this the need to wear PPE for even the smallest of tasks, the logistical challenge of being a critical care nurse in a COVID-19 environment becomes even more obvious - and the response of nurses in this field even more admirable.
 

The new challenges

 
COVID-19 has created a new environment for critical care nurses in a number of ways:
 
Patient turnover - On a regular ITU ward, staff are always busy treating new faces, however in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of patients being administered to critical care facilities has increased exponentially. This means that nurses are having to deal with an increasing number of problems every day, whilst struggling at times to allocate the necessary resources. Despite this, they still manage to save the lives of those around them and provide the highest quality care possible.

More demanding hours - Even though their working have now been extended due to the pandemic, many critical care professionals also volunteer at the weekend on COVID-19 wards showing incredible commitment to their role and further displaying their selfless nature.

Dealing with families – To prevent further infections, there are fewer families in ITU wards, however critical care nurses still have to deal with the grief and anxiety that loved one’s experience. For those who aren’t allowed to see their relatives, a critical care nurse may be the only communication conduit, whether that’s via FaceTime or on the phone.

COVID-19 often involves a long stay - Patients tend to come into an ITU and remain there for 10 or 14 days on a ventilator, dependent on how they are beginning to recover. Due to its unpredictability, many patients can end up staying on life support for even longer, meaning further resources are required to aid them on their road to recovery, often leaving staff stretched.

Feeling disconnected - This is a challenging time to be working in the NHS and, whether as a result of long hours or being forced to isolate, many staff feel disconnected from their own loved ones. This is something that any of us find challenging, but critical care nurses continue to show up for patients - and for the country - with unfailing dedication throughout.
 
COVID-19 has created challenging conditions for those who work in critical care. Nevertheless, the level of resilience, dedication and resourcefulness of those who continue to work on the frontline of medical care remains strong. To find out more about the invaluable support critical care nurses provide on a day to day basis, be sure to read our article The Importance of Critical Care Nurses Within Medical Care.