Nursing in Practice May/June 2020 (issue 114) | Page 29

15
morale
of nurses – 306 out of the 719 advanced nurse
rs, practice nurses, community nurses and district
o were polled – said their work morale was ‘low’
w’. The most cited reason was unrealistic patient
emand, though a lack of appreciation from
management and low pay were also significant.
Some 62% of all nurses said burnout and
stress had affected patient care – and for
practice nurses this issue was reported by
84%, or 190 out of 226. Nurses told Nursing
in Practice they expected coronavirus would
further worsen morale in the long run.
A practice nurse in London who wished to
remain anonymous said Covid-19 ‘will have
a negative impact on morale in the long run’
because of the ‘tsunami ahead’. ‘We are all worried
t the huge numbers of patients due for face-to-face
nce restrictions lift,’ she explained. ‘For example,
ears and respiratory testing. Meeting this need
ed personal protective equipment (PPE),
staff and continuing restrictions to the way we
intimidating thought.’
munity nurse in the West Midlands, who also
be anonymous, said morale in the workplace is
much lower’ because of fears about ‘higher death
issues and being responsible for taking the virus
infecting family or friends’. ‘I also feel morale is
e affected long term as a result of the virus because
ling isolated, fearful and unsupported during
one of the worst pandemics of our time.’
ren Foster, a practice nurse based in Portsmouth,
nk morale was already high in my particular practice
remained so – we want to support each other and
ts.’
Staff feel
isolated,
fearful and
need more
support
consistently told Nursing in Practice they have
to do baby vaccinations in surgery during the
This demonstrated the importance nurses give to
ns of children under five years. Some 73% (543 of
yed) of primary care nurses were in favour of
ry vaccination for preschool children. Just 18%
the idea. The survey also found almost two-thirds
urses agreed compulsory vaccination would
ptake, although that figure was lower among
rses – 54%. Two-thirds (66%) of all respondents
of nurses think ‘anti-vax’ messaging on social
he main cause of poor uptake.
Nurses
have
stepped up
to the
mark and
learned
new ways
of working
d
n
Online
Go online to read
the full State of
Primary Care
Report 2019
bit.ly/3b97idu
May/June 2020 nursinginpractice.com