Nurses Navigating Mental Health During Uncharted Times: Self, Others, Systems (S.O.S)!

Abstract

Study Background: The nursing profession is facing a multiplicity of stressors that have both predated and been exacerbated by the Covid-19 pandemic. The emotional and physical demands entailed in nursing predispose nurses to suboptimal mental health and burnout. Purpose: This paper draws upon the narrative interviews of 53 Canadian nurses as part of a larger pan-Canadian, cross disciplinary study that examined the gendered experiences of mental health, leaves of absence, and return to work of 7 professions. Methods: Thorne's interpretive descriptive guided Iterative and thematic analysis which identified three predominant themes within the nursing dataset, this paper focuses on the substantive theme of ‘Navigating it Alone,’ Results: Nurses expressed a profound sense of isolation at 3 particular levels: at home, at work, and in systems – while simultaneously balancing uniquely gendered familial responsibilities and workplace demands. Conclusions: These results illuminate instrumental pathways for stakeholders to attenuate the personal and professional pressures that continue to be disproportionately carried by nurses as they navigate these particularly challenging times.