COVID-19 has changed the healthcare sector. Organizations across the country will more than likely feel the repercussions of the pandemic for many years.
After all, hospitals, medical practices, and clinics must bounce back financially, while medical practitioners will need to treat various health issues, from long-COVID to mental health disorders.
Nurses have, of course, played an essential role in caring for patients throughout these unprecedented times. While they will have faced significant pressure over the last 12 months, the pandemic could positively impact the field in the future.
Continue reading to find out how COVID-19 will change nursing for the better.
Table of Contents
A Rise in Specialty Nurses
Few medical professionals expected the COVID-19 pandemic. Nurses, physicians, and everyone in between were forced to adapt their knowledge and skills to diagnose and treat positive patients.
Despite struggling with full hospital beds, social distancing, and multiple fatalities per day, healthcare practitioners managed to care for patients of all ages with respect, dignity, and the utmost care.
The challenges have proved nurses can overcome many challenges that come their way. As a result, many may look to enter more specialized fields. For example, a registered nurse might have gained the confidence to enroll in an FNP degree program to become a family nurse practitioner.
An FNP degree is a smart decision for nurses who are eager to gain advanced clinical skills. Physicians have been stretched thin throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, which has led to a greater need for qualified nurse practitioners in various specialties. For healthcare organizations to manage during a future pandemic, they will need to invest in nurse practitioners to support patient care and outcomes.
Also, an online FNP program can help busy nurses complete a degree at a time and pace that suits their needs. Therefore, they must look for a flexible, supportive, and accredited FNP degree to develop their advanced clinical skills.
Improved Nurse Safety
Millions of nurses chose to enter hospitals, practices, clinics, and nursing homes at great personal risk. Most even cared for patients without the correct personal protective equipment (PPE) to protect them from exposure to COVID-19.
However, this is not the first-time nurses have been forced to work in unsafe conditions. For decades nurses across America have struggled with violent patients or visitors, occupational hazards, and low staff ratios that have added to their physical and mental pressure.
As many healthcare organizations did not have the correct level of PPE at the start of the pandemic, it exposed gaps in safety. Hospitals across the nation are now willing to listen to nurses’ demands for improved workplace safety. Nurses will even protest on the White House’s front steps this April to provide greater protection for nurses.
Telehealth Services
Many hospitals and medical practices had to adopt telehealth technology during the COVID-19 pandemic. The innovative service enabled nurses to diagnose, treat safely, and support patients with various illnesses and ailments.
Technology will continue to serve patients once the pandemic is over. Nurses will more than likely organize routine checks and follow-ups via telehealth services, as it can save time and improve access to healthcare.
Before COVID-19, many organizations were reluctant to incorporate telehealth into their operations. Therefore, the pandemic could have pushed the technology forward by decades.
Greater Respect for the Profession
Nurses are the beating heart of every hospital. While most enter the role to improve patients’ lives and wellbeing and not to receive attention, the public has developed a great respect for nurses’ skills, passion, and dedication.
Every single person in America has received medical help from a qualified nurse. From the moment a person arrives in the world to their final days, nurses are on-hand to improve their health, comfort, and safety, and the COVID-19 pandemic was no exception.
Nurses have not only cared for and treated patients in stressful situations over the past 12 months, but they have needed to think on their feet and become creative to keep every patient safe and healthy.
For instance, they needed to adapt personal protective equipment following shortages, reposition IV drips to prevent Coronavirus exposure, or tape photographs of themselves to their clothing to maintain a friendly, approachable demeanor.
As a consequence, they have been hailed as heroes and heroines on the news, via social media, and through word of mouth. While the COVID-19 pandemic has been tough for nurses, it has increased respect and admiration for the profession.
The newfound respect, which is long overdue, could even inspire the next wave of registered nurses. While the field is struggling with a shortage, it will not come as a surprise if many people feel inspired to pursue a nursing degree in the near future.
It is, of course, a fantastic avenue for those who want to improve others’ health, support a community, and enjoy fantastic career opportunities. For example, after training as a registered nurse, they could pursue a specialty, such as enrolling in an online FNP program to become a family nurse practitioner.
Plus, experienced nurses might feel inspired to pursue a specialty due to the respect they may have gained for nurse leaders. As a result, they may return to education to earn an additional degree, such as BSN, FNP, or DNP.
New Nursing Careers
The pandemic has exposed gaps in healthcare that will need to be filled. Plus, the rise of new healthcare technologies might require different skills and talents. For example, the introduction of telehealth may result in many nurses specializing in the technology.
A Public Health Drive
Nurses have not only improved patient health during the COVID-19 pandemic, but they have promoted the importance of wellness and healthy lifestyles.
While most nursing professions treat ill and injured patients, public health nurses prevent people from experiencing an illness or accident. For example, a public health nurse will:
- Promote the importance of handwashing
- Articulate the dangers of unhealthy lifestyle choices, such as eating junk food and excessive alcohol consumption
- Help people to stop smoking
- Encourage exercise
- Develop nutrition plans for people across a community
As obesity and pre-existing conditions were a risk factor for COVID-19, nurses will continue to encourage healthy lifestyle choices and a proactive approach to healthcare.
Nurse-Led Innovation
The newfound respect for nurses will likely lead to more trust in their opinion. Nurse-led innovation has already begun, as nurses and nursing students were invited to submit mental health solutions for the Johnson & Johnson Nurses Innovate QuickFire Challenge.
Run in partnership with the American Psychiatric Nurses Association, experienced and budding nurses provided ideas to improve the mental wellbeing of patients and healthcare staff during and after the pandemic.
As nurses will have experience on the frontline, they are in the best position to offer unique solutions to genuine mental health issues. Thanks to their expert advice and ideas, hospitals, practices, and clinics can provide the appropriate care and best outcomes for patients struggling with one or more mental health disorders.
Another QuickFire Challenge proved how experienced and knowledgeable many nurses of all levels are when it comes to healthcare. Two awardees from a recent challenge will now receive a combined sum of $100,000 in grant funding to develop their ideas. Plus, they will receive mentorship from the Johnson & Johnson family of companies and gain access to their Innovation-JLABS ecosystem.
The first awardee is Jennifer Stinson, a nurse practitioner and clinician-scientist who will co-develop a high-tech idea to address children’s pain management while at home. Kathleen Malouf, a pediatric nurse, is the second awardee who will increase hospital staff efficiency when caring for COVID-19 patients.
The above awardees are a prime example of the importance of listening and supporting nurses’ ideas. As a result, it will likely inspire a new wave of healthcare entrepreneurs from the field or place greater trust in their opinions and strategies.
The more nurses’ views and ideas are listened to and respected; the more inspired others will be to pursue an online nursing degree, such as an ADN or FNP program. As a result, it could prevent nursing shortages, which could transform patient standards and outcomes.
A More Cohesive Environment
The COVID-19 pandemic brought out the best in many healthcare practitioners and support staff. Departments have needed to work together more than ever to improve patient care and outcomes each day.
Hospital staff were reassigned to new departments and received different responsibilities to their daily roles. However, they adapted without argument or complaint, as the primary goal was to improve patients and staff’s health and safety.
As the pandemic pushed different departments and employees together, it will likely lead to a more cohesive environment moving forward. Practitioners will have a new respect for their colleagues, which will improve communication, support, and patient outcomes.
Remote Biometric Measurement Technology
Remote biometric measurements have been used widely since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. As healthcare organizations have been overwhelmed, they have utilized wearables that allow patients to take their own blood pressure or monitor their oxygen levels, heart rate, or glucose levels at home.
Patients will then send the results digitally, which will help nurses and physicians identify, diagnose, and treat a health issue to prevent it from spiraling out of control.
Due to the increased efficiency and proactive approach to healthcare, remote biometric measurements may remain at many organizations. It could take some of the pressure off nurses, physicians, and other healthcare workers.
A Digital Mindset
As the likes of telehealth and biometric measures will have improved hospitals and practices’ efficiency during the pandemic, organizations may adopt a more digital mindset in the future.
The introduction of new healthcare technologies could improve efficiency across departments, which will remove some of the pressure placed on nurses every day. As a result, they could focus on providing patients with their full attention in a medical environment.
Positive Change Following Reflection
When life returns to normal, most healthcare organizations will reflect on what processes performed well during the pandemic and the issues many healthcare practitioners faced. It will provide nurses with an opportunity to highlight the problems they face in their role or across a department.
As a result, medical practices might invest in the necessary changes to improve internal standards, transform patient care, and ensure they are better prepared for another pandemic.
Conclusion
There is no denying that the COVID-19 pandemic has changed healthcare, and its repercussions will likely be felt for many years to come. While nurses and other healthcare workers have faced 12 months of intense pressure, emotional heartache, and much self-sacrifice, lessons have and will be learned once life returns to normal.
Nurses have not only received a newfound respect from their colleagues and the public, but they may play an important role in future processes to improve efficiency and safety.
The pandemic has resulted in organizations listening to nurses’ advice and ideas. Plus, it has improved communications across departments, transformed nurse safety, and encouraged hospitals and practices to adopt a digital mindset.
Of course, one of the biggest benefits is that it will inspire many people to enter nursing. As a result, many universities might experience an increase in students enrolling in various programs, such as a BSN, ADN, DNP, or FNP degree.
Also, as the pandemic will have pushed experienced nurses out of their comfort zone, they might be inspired to enter a leadership position. For example, they might enroll in an FNP program to qualify as a family nurse practitioner. Plus, an online FNP program or similar can match a busy nurse’s lifestyle, which will help them care for patients while building on their clinical knowledge and skills.
One thing is for sure, hospitals, doctor’s offices, and clinics will need skilled, qualified staff to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic. So, if you are looking for a job that offers multiple paths, consider a healthcare career. You could gain an ADN, BSN, MD, or an FNP degree to embark on a respected role that will provide you a sense of purpose and pride each working day.
