Frontline and forgotten: Community nurses’ experience of shielding during COVID-19

Abstract In March 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic reached the United Kingdom. National and local lockdowns became the new reality as the pandemic had a significant effect on morbidity and mortality, especially amongst vulnerable groups of the population. It was people in these groups in particular that were advised to shield at home. There are a number of studies focusing on the psychological effect of this enforced isolation on the general population; however, to the researchers’ knowledge, the effects shielding on healthcare professionals has not received a similar level of attention. The general population has expressed its appreciation to frontline healthcare professionals, with the majority of praise directed towards doctors and nurses working for the National Health Service. It must be noted that community nurses working for the private sector do not appear to have been officially afforded the same recognition, and research on the psychological effect the pandemic had on these healthcare professionals is lacking. The primary researcher identified this gap in the literature which became one of the reasons for the present study. This study enlisted the participation of ten community nurses working in the private sector who experienced shielding due to a long-term health condition. Participants were all female and aged between 24 and 63 years, and each attended a semi-structured interview. These interviews consisted of nine open-ended questions exploring these nurses’ experiences and the psychological effects COVID-19 and shielding had on them. Grounded Theory was favoured as the analytical technique, identifying eleven core themes. Social Identity Theory informed the evaluation of the data. Nurses reported an array of, psychological effects, varying from mild to severe. According to participants, employer recognition and staying connected with colleagues are vital for the maintenance of their social and professional identity and, psychological well-being.