The COVID-19 pandemic has had a profound impact on healthcare. As the first, second and third wave of COVID-19 cases reached their peak, communities were warned of the stress that COVID-19 would put on the healthcare system and when the system is overwhelmed, so are the individuals that comprise the system. From healthcare administrative staff and management to clinicians, all experienced different repercussions because of COVID-19. Nurses in particular, are under significant stress. As a result, some are considering leaving their overwhelming and stressful hospital work environments. The many Hospice organizations across Ontario can potentially support Ontario’s overwhelmed nurses through offering less stressful careers within their welcoming facilities
As of August 2021, there are approximately 113,000 practicing registered nurses (RN), 59,000 registered practical nurses (RPN) and 4000 nurse practitioners (NP) registered with the College of Nurses of Ontario1. Further, the rate of nurses (RN, RPN, and NP) is the highest per 100,00 population than any other healthcare provider in Ontario2.
Since the beginning of the pandemic, nurses and other health care workers have been celebrated for their bravery and their essential role in patient care. Authors Mohammed et al.8 (2020) completed a discourse analysis of how nurses were represented in mass media during COVID-19. They observed that labeling nurses as healthcare “heroes” may contribute to normalizing nurses’ exposure to COVID-19 and inequitable working conditions. These authors note that being labeled as a “hero” is not necessarily the recognition that nurses want, rather meaningful policy changes to improve working conditions and compensation.
Despite the widespread recognition and appreciation Canadians have expressed towards nurses, many nurses have experienced increased workloads, stress, anxiety, and burnout3,4. In addition, nurses are also faced with fear of contracting COVID-19 in the workplace3. Other factors such as PPE shortages, minimal wage compensation during pandemic, and pay differences among providers5 contribute to nurses’ frustrations. Combined the difficult working conditions and inadequate compensation, many nurses have been leaving the profession, causing a nation-wide nursing shortage6,7.
In fact, many nurses are fearing that the inequities will continue as rumours of a fourth wave spread. An ongoing study at the University of Windsor notes that during the pandemic nurses have been experiencing physical, mental, and emotional exhaustion10. A nurse working in a Toronto hospital recently told CBC news9 that burnout “led to a lot of people deciding they don’t want to stay, they want to leave the profession because they no longer can cope in this epidemic” (Taekema, 2020).
In comparison to hospitals, a career in hospice can offer nurses more manageable workloads, more comfortable working environment, and increased mental health supports. Advance Practice Nurse Practice Navigator, Tasher Frederick highlights the benefits of their career in an Ontario hospice saying,
“I love working in Hospice palliative care because it isn’t just a job! It is an intimate connection with clients and their families as the individual approaches end of life. It’s also helping clients manage their symptoms and helping them to navigate the intricacies of our health care system in a compassionate and collaborative way.”
The positive experiences as a nurse in hospice are shared among many. Hospice organizations may wish to advertise such benefits of a career in their small, well managed facilities to promote recruitment of Ontario nurses. Regardless of where nurses choose to practice, healthcare relies on their expertise and compassionate care.
Are you interested in hearing more about careers in hospice palliative care? Please let us know: https://bit.ly/39xAQTq
- College of Nurses of Ontario. (2021). Membership Totals at a Glance. Retrieved from: https://www.cno.org/en/what-is-cno/nursing-demographics/membership-totals-at-a-glance/
- Canadian Institute for Health Information. (2020). Canada’s health care providers. Retrieved from: https://www.cihi.ca/en/canadas-health-care-providers
- Stelnicki, A. M., Carleton, R. N., & Reichert, C. (2020). Nurses’ mental health and well-being: COVID-19 impacts. Canadian Journal of Nursing Research, 52(3), 237-239. https://doi.org/10.1177/0844562120931623
- Raoofi, S., Kan, F. P., Rafiei, S., Khani, S., Hosseinifard, H., Tajik, F., … & Ghashghaee, A. (2021). Anxiety during the COVID-19 pandemic in hospital staff: systematic review plus meta-analysis. BMJ Supportive & Palliative Care. doi: 10.1136/bmjspcare-2021-003125
- Brophy, J. T., Keith, M. M., Hurley, M., & McArthur, J. E. (2021). Sacrificed: Ontario healthcare workers in the time of COVID-19. NEW SOLUTIONS: A Journal of Environmental and Occupational Health Policy, 30(4), 267-281. https://doi.org/10.1177/1048291120974358
- Amin, F. (June 29, 2021). Big cities feeling nursing shortage crunch. City News. Retrieved from: https://toronto.citynews.ca/2021/06/29/big-cities-feeling-nursing-shortage-crunch/
- Amin, F. (May 31, 2021). Union warning of mass exodus of nurses due to working conditions, lack of pay. City News. Retrieved from: https://toronto.citynews.ca/2021/05/31/unions-warning-of-mass-exodus-of-nurses-due-to-working-conditions-lack-of-pay/
- Mohammed, S., Peter, E., Killackey, T., & Maciver, J. (2021). The “nurse as hero” discourse in the COVID-19 pandemic: A poststructural discourse analysis. International Journal of Nursing Studies, 117, 103887. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2021.103887.
- Taekema, D. (July 24, 2021). Ontario nursing groups fear mass exodus from workforce following pandemic burnout. Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC). Retrieved from: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/nurse-shortage-pandemic-burnout-1.6113553
- Wilhelm, T. (August 4, 2021). ‘Tired, depressed, angry’ nurses leaving jobs during pandemic, Windsor study finds. Windsor Star. Retrieved from: https://windsorstar.com/news/local-news/tired-depressed-angry-nurses-leaving-jobs-during-pandemic-windsor-study-finds
