Workforce Challenges during the Covid-19 Pandemic

This pandemic has presented us with many challenges including staffing, resourcing and capacity. We have all had to be resourceful and flexible in the delivery of care and our guest editorial this edition is an example of this.

For me, the pandemic has been a complete change of practice from a desk and academic role to being re-deployed as a frontline vaccinator. Other colleagues have been deployed to roles including hotel quarantine, contact tracing and testing facilities.

This pandemic has taught us that resources are not infinite; this includes staffing and we can all perhaps think of the way we have changed our practices and modified procedures to ensure that outcomes are still met and patient care is still delivered in the safest and most sustainable way.

Wave after wave of Covid-19 has exacerbated an ongoing crisis for the nursing workforce. In many settings the pandemic has only worsened staffing issues that have long existed.

Staff are burnt-out, and wards are facing chronic shortages during the pandemic due to staff quarantining, and re-deployment.

However the pandemic has made this a public matter of concern and people are more aware of the challenges nurses face in the delivery of safe and effective nursing care..

We are all working tirelessly and it is important to celebrate when we have been able to achieve a safe and effective change in practice and most importantly stay safe and prioritize self care.