Kozak, Nicole

Person-centredness can focus on either those being care for or the care givers. This study and exhibit focus on the care givers. Photovoice is community-based, participatory action research that focuses on social justice, giving voice to those whose voices are not always heard. Nurses working in patient care during the COVID-19 pandemic from hospitals in British Columbia, Canada participated in this photovoice study, providing a local perspective and insight into nursing during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study used nurses’ narratives and photographs to better understand the experience of caring for patients with the COVID-19 virus and encouraged change by nurses and health care leadership and understanding from the public. Participants noted that having a collective voice was therapeutic, allowing group discussions and expressions of shared stressors and celebration of collective progress. 12 nurses participated in this research study, submitting a total of 55 photos and narratives, as well as participating in focus groups. Data was analyzed using an inductive content analysis approach. Five main themes were identified from this rich data: “The Work of Nursing”, “Miscommunication”, “Fatigue”, “Resilience” and “Hope for the Future”. This exhibition is an opportunity to amplify the voices of nurses who felt challenged to keep patients at the center of their care and reflect on the first two years of the COVID-19 pandemic compared to where we are now. The exhibition will showcase the participants’ images submitted throughout this project, alongside their quotes. In this study, we were able to magnify the experiences of frontline nurses and give them a voice to make recommendations to leadership and policymakers. Nurses are positioned to ensure the perspectives of the patients are in the center of all care provided and their perspectives need to be considered and integrated into health care to support meaningful change and prepare for future pandemics.

The current COVID-19 global pandemic has had a profound impact on the health care system and on the physical and psychological well-being of nurses. Previous pandemics have led to nurses leaving the profession. Therefore, it is important that we hear the voices of nurses who experienced the pandemic on the frontlines to influence future planning and policy development. The purpose of this study was to explore frontline nurses’ experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic through photos, narratives, and group discussions. Twelve nurses in two groups shared their lived experiences through Photovoice, a participatory action approach. Photos and narratives were collected over five weeks per group. One group at the beginning of the pandemic and the other group six months later. Focus group discussions were held following each group. Five themes emerged from the photovoice data: (1) The work of nursing; (2) Miscommunication; (3) Fatigue; (4) Resilience; and (5) Hope for the future. Various subthemes were noted within each theme to delineate the lived experience of frontlines nurses working in the COVID-19 pandemic.