Support for A&E nurses caring for patients with sickle cell disease

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Nursing
• Hematology

Background:

• Nurses in A&E departments face unique challenges when caring for patients with sickle cell disease.
• Some sickle cell disease patients exhibit difficult and challenging behaviors, increasing stress for healthcare providers.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of a health psychologist-led support group for nurses caring for sickle cell disease patients.
• To assess the impact of the support group on nurses' attitudes, confidence, and perceived benefits.

Main Methods:

• A support group intervention was provided by a health psychologist.
• 21 female nurses completed questionnaires assessing perceptions of usefulness, attitude changes, benefits, comfort, and continuation of sessions.

Main Results:

• Most nurses found the support group beneficial, reporting more sympathetic attitudes towards sickle cell disease patients.
• The group fostered reflection, provided social support, and increased nurses' confidence in managing challenging patient behaviors.
• Nurses were generally satisfied with the support group's format.

Conclusions:

• The support group effectively provided emotional support and enhanced nurses' confidence in managing sickle cell disease patients.
• Improved nurse confidence and support are anticipated to positively influence the quality of patient care.