PowerPoint Presentation

[Audio] Sleeping With The Sea of Sharks: Lived Experiences Of Filipino Nurses With Covid- 19 By: Leynalyn P. Resonable.

[Audio] Background of the Study. Nurses provide essential and unparalleled service in the challenges of the pandemic. Nurses receive their reward as they feel good in their selflessness at the cost of their wellbeing,even their own lives. Yet despite their self-sacrifice, they are discriminated against and even more despised when infected with Covid- 19..

[Audio] This research study operationally explored the lived experiences of nurses who recovered from Covid- 19. It provides the participants affected an opportunity to have a voice and make a meaningful contribution for the public to understand their experience from the perspective of a front liner being a patient themselves and how it impacted their lives. This may lead to the formulation of other queries that will aid in nursing practice and discover a different approach to responding to healthcare workers' needs, during this pandemic..

[Audio] The study is entitled "Sleeping with the Sea of Sharks: Lived Experiences of Filipino Nurses with Covid-19". Sharks are regarded as one of the best predators on earth for being ruthless and cold-blooded killers with their aggressive behavior. The researcher used the metaphor as sharks are connected to emotions of being threatened in life, situations out of control and feeling vulnerable. Being infected of Covid- 19 gave the nurses' not only strong feelings of dread and doom but also made them swim into the ocean of peril. The effect of the pandemic is likened to the sea of sharks..

[Audio] Statement of Objective. This study sought to explore and describe and explore the lived experiences of Filipino nurses diagnosed with Covid- 19..

[Audio] Methods. A descriptive qualitative approach was used in this study. A semi-structured interview guide was utilized in the data gathering, with an in-depth, one-on- one interview with the participants. With their permission, all interviews were audio-recorded and stored in secured digital files that consist of both audio recordings and transcribed verbatim. Transcripts were analyzed using a thematic analysis technique..

[Audio] Population and Locale of the Study. Seven Filipino nurses who are working in private tertiary hospitals in Luzon, Philippines responsible for providing direct care to patients were enrolled as participants. Individually interviewed between February and April 2021. The participants were willing to participate and gave their full consent to be included in the study. Excluded from the study criteria were nurses working in the outpatient department, clinics, offices, and screening booths. The actual number of participants included was based on the researchers meeting the point of saturation. A purposive sampling technique was used to solicit appropriate participants. For Data Analysis, Colaizzi's seven steps method was used to analyze transcripts..

[Audio] Filipino resilience became evident with the findings of this research. The salient findings of the research study are summarized and major themes with their respective sub-themes were formulated as follows: Number 1: We are crawling in the dark together with its sub-themes includes, I got this like the back of my hand, Imminent danger, Defenseless Warriors, Wretched Nurses, and Enervated Faith. Number 2, Left out in the cold with sub-themes: Claptrap praises for nurses, On the back burner, Recharging batteries. Lastly, Aftermath with sub-themes includes, Adding insult to the injury, Thoughts of walking out a Sworn oath to serve, Recovery from The Hurricane, Highlighting the essentials, Intentional disregard for negatives, and Rejuvenated Faith..

[Audio] The first theme is We Are Crawling in The Dark. The Coronavirus as an unseen enemy has subjected the whole world to extreme chaos causing massive deaths and the fall of economies. It is as though everyone is crawling in the dark and unable to figure out what will happen next and for how long more. It is generally believed that no country was fully prepared to handle the magnitude of the COVID- 19 pandemic..

[Audio] Getting it like the back of their hand means having very good knowledge or familiar of something. In their case, they felt they already knew what to do with Covid 19, which they regarded as just another virus. They got used to doing things the same way that they overlooked hazards in their surroundings as Covid 19 started to expand worldwide..

[Audio] Imminent danger means there is cause to believe the well-being of an individual is in peril if no intervention is immediately initiated. Some have underestimated the risk of tasks they performed regularly. The moment they noticed changes in their environment, it was already too late, and they fell victim to the dreadful disease. The sudden emergence of Covid 19 and its advance into a pandemic increased the demands of nurses' work, causing a lack of confidence, immense stress, and fear as they must battle an unseen novel enemy which was rapidly spreading..

[Audio] Defenseless Warriors. The nurses did not have adequate personal protective equipment to use like gowns, and gloves, which put them directly at risk in terms of their own safety and prevented them from being potential carriers of this disease to the patients for whom they were caring. The nurses were burnout working long hours of being understaffed.. Mandatory tests were not administered which the nurses needed for them to ensure their own health and their families..

[Audio] Wretched Nurses. All of them were shocked to find out they were positive for Covid 19.The possibility of being afflicted did not cross their minds. They were miserably thinking of the loved ones they left at home. All their close contacts were quarantined too also with their families. Knowing the stigma of the disease, they feared for their sake. They felt they have caused severe suffering to their loved ones and the guilt feeling lingered. The employers did not care about nurses so much more for their families who were also affected..

[Audio] The participants had inner struggles, and verbalized how they thought of their situation while talking to God. Upon knowledge of their positive Covid 19 swab results, they felt weak and questioned their faith. The nurses had felt that God was punishing them, and some initially felt angry..

[Audio] Left out in the cold. "To be left out in the cold" means "to be ignored, forgotten and neglected". The participants underwent tremendous challenges and struggles as they were going through the experience of being infected with the Covid 19 virus. People around the world acclaimed nurses as heroes, and yet during this time, when they were the ones who were ridden with the disease, all praises were erased, and they were subjected to overwhelming scorn..

[Audio] Claptrap praises for Nurses. Nurses, have also been subject to bullying and stigma, partly due to the perception that they are more likely to contract and spread COVID- 19. When their positive Covid 19 results came out, praises ceased for them. The admirations became a claptrap: pretentious nonsense, insincere or empty language. Others were verbal with their disgust and most people were killing them softly with their silence and avoiding gestures..

[Audio] On the back burner means in the position of something that will not receive immediate attention and action. This describes how the modern heroes are given value by their employers., Coordination with the local agencies for the sake of nurses is poor. There was deficient information regarding swab test results, contact tracing, and support for the infected nurses. Water or refreshments were not included with the food provided during their isolation They even had to provide their own medicine and vitamins. Monitoring paraphernalia was not provided like a thermometer. NO staff call or guide t like doctors, head nurses, the chaplain, or coordinators..

[Audio] the participants found ways to get up on their feet and "recharge their batteries" while confined in their rooms. Prayer became a part of their lives during their time of solitude. Their cell phones became an ally to them as they could communicate with their loved ones. They ensured they were healthy and anticipated negative results for their next swab test. They ate healthy food and took the vitamins they brought, and friends and relatives provided some. Others exercised and did stretching and Zumba to keep fit. One followed up on some work she was not able to endorse. otherswatched TV to divert emotions of boredom, depression, and anxiety..

[Audio] The aftermath means the period immediately following a usually catastrophic event. This central theme describes when the nurses have already recovered from Covid 19.

[Audio] the nurses expressed their anger and dismay as their employers failed to safeguard their wellbeing and show appreciation and value for their services. Their employers did not give them proper compensation. Their quarantine days were categorized as sick leave. Some nurses were not paid. A significant issue, too, was the no providence of hazard pay. The nurses expressed their disdain as they realized that their services were good-for- nothing..

[Audio] Thoughts of walking out. If given a choice, they will consider leaving the profession. They fear going through the same experiences again and are further ridiculed by the public due to the stigma of the disease. However, they have no choice but to stay employed because it is their source of income. They expressed that there is no available immediate job if ever they render their resignation..

[Audio] On top of all the experience, the nurses feel that nursing is already their way of life and will continue to serve. Since they have experienced being a patient themselves, understanding what a patient experiences and feels due to his/her illness has a positive effect on their nursing care.. They have become more conscientious as nurses care more about co-workers and feel a duty to protect the public and improve the community..

[Audio] Recovery From the Hurricane. Having been infected with Covid 19 was like a hurricane to the nurses. they made a conscious effort to resolve personal and interpersonal problems caused by their experience. They recounted ways how they minimized stress and conflicts. They continue and double their efforts for preventive measures against infection to ensure their safety and others at work..

[Audio] Highlighting the Essentials. The experience brought about a transition in the life of the nurses and made them appreciate life. They invest in their health as their loved ones depend on them. Because the stigma is there to stay for a long time, the nurses continue to isolate themselves from the public and prefer to be with their loved ones. Family ties and their relationships are stronger. They value more those who are genuinely concerned for them..

[Audio] Intentional Disregard for Negatives, For the discrimination of the public, they simply chose to avoid them instead and stay silent. They said that people would never really understand no matter what they do, especially those who do not have medical knowledge. Some merely cried out and presented a façade to solid and unaffected people. They used denial and defense mechanisms. One nurse said she started to imagine they have no neighbours. Derogatory comments are ignored, and they pretend they do not hear anything or forget the judging look in people's eyes. Despite the outrage from people, they all wish others would not have to experience being infected because they know first-hand that it is dreadful..

[Audio] Rejuvenated Faith. They all kept hold of their faith in God and trusted Him to direct their lives. Their faith made them feel empowered and hopeful and became powerful help in managing their stress. They have offered and dedicated their lives to the Lord and their families.

[Audio] Recommendations. Nurses are risking their health. The hospital management must provide them with sufficient personal protective equipment to feel safe at work and lessen the fear of transmission to their families. Help should be provided and extended to family members like hospitalization, mental health programs assistance, and psychological support for those at high risk of developing traumatic disorders..

[Audio] Quarantine services should also include medications vitamins, and refreshments. Providence of essentials and other supplies during quarantine should be reviewed and defined. A designated attending physician should be delegated to monitor the nurses placed in quarantine. Nurses should also be provided with mental health and spiritual support. During quarantine groups, chats should be initiated for nurses in quarantine to communicate with fellow nurses and administration personnel. Activities online should be planned so that nurses can divert their attention and their distress. Early stress assessment should be done, and employers should ensure that nurses can get the help they need. Healthcare leaders and policymakers must provide appropriate mental, physical, and psychological means to support and protect nurses. Benefits from governing agencies should be appropriately disseminated, and hospital leaders should coordinate with their employees..

[Audio] Nurses at private hospitals are doing the same work and are equally risking their lives as those from government hospitals, so, therefore, they also deserve to be given proper remuneration with the same salary rate and hazard pay for their services. Quarantine leave should be a different category for the benefit of nurses and should not be indicated as sick leave. We urge policy‐makers to ensure that nurses' voices and perspectives are integrated into local and global decision‐making to minimize the structural injustices many nurses have faced. Nurses should be consulted through Nursing organizations to have a voice in the decisions regarding health protocols. There should also be debriefing and counseling for nurses who have recuperated from Covid 19..

THANK You Leynalyn P. Resonable RN, MAN.