General Practice Nurses' experiences of changing care delivery during COVID-19. Implications for future practice:...

Area of Science:

• Primary Care Nursing
• Healthcare Management
• Pandemic Response

Background:

• General practice rapidly adapted care delivery due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Limited research exists on General Practice Nurses' experiences, job satisfaction, workload, and stress during this period.
• The study addresses a gap in understanding the impact of pandemic-driven changes on this vital healthcare workforce.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore General Practice Nurses' (GPNs) experiences implementing rapid, large-scale changes in care delivery during the COVID-19 pandemic.
• To evaluate the effects of these altered working practices on GPNs' professional wellbeing.
• To inform future practice, patient care, and support for the GPN workforce.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative case study design across 3-5 general practice sites.
• Data collection via focus groups, semi-structured interviews with GPNs and healthcare teams, and observation of meetings.
• Analysis using framework analysis, underpinned by the Non-adoption, Abandonment, Scale-up, Spread and Sustainability (NASSS) Framework.

Main Results:

• Anticipates findings on GPNs' unique roles and challenges in primary care.
• Will identify impacts of COVID-19 working practices on GPNs.
• Highlights the need to address recruitment, retention, and retirement issues within the GPN workforce.

Conclusions:

• General Practice Nurses are crucial in primary care but face workforce challenges.
• Understanding the impact of COVID-19 on GPNs is essential for effective care delivery and workforce support.
• The study aims to develop strategies to mitigate negative aspects of changing care delivery and support future practice implementation.