12 August 2020
The COVID-19 pandemic has had an enormous impact on all Australians and notably on the health and aged care professions, changing the way we work and interact with one another.
To gain a better understanding of the effects the Australian outbreak of COVID-19 has had on the nursing, midwifery and personal care workforce, the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation in all states and territories have partnered with the Rosemary Bryant AO Research Centre to launch a national COVID-19 Workforce Survey.
“Prior to COVID-19 similar research has shown that health professionals already work under significant workforce pressures, with one study demonstrating that more than half of participants had high levels of stress,” said Director of the Rosemary Bryant AO Research Centre Professor Marion Eckert, who is leading the research team.
ANMF (SA Branch) CEO/Secretary Adj. Associate Professor Elizabeth Dabars AM said that the pandemic has added further strain on a workforce already at risk of burnout, by impacting on job demands and resources.
“The pandemic has had wide-reaching effects on health care workers beyond those workers directly managing, testing and treating COVID-19 cases,’’ Ms Dabars said.
“In a number of states, we saw elective surgeries cancelled in anticipation of a surge in demand on hospital resources, leading to the unintended consequence of some health care workers becoming underemployed and facing financial stress,’’ she said.
Even with relatively low numbers of positive cases around the nation - prior to the second surge in Victoria - health, maternity and aged care services were under strain to manage the pandemic whilst providing care to new and existing patients and clients unaffected by COVID-19.
States and territories across the country encouraged people who had recently left the profession to renew their registrations with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia to meet expected stress on the health system. However, it has been reported that some hospitals have experienced up to a 30 per cent reduction in activity.
The situation is now vastly different in Victoria, which is in the grip of a frightening and deadly second COVID-19 surge and has declared a state of disaster. Victoria has appealed for an influx of medical staff from interstate to help it stem the COVID tide and has imposed a six-week, 8pm-5am police-enforced Melbourne curfew and stage four restrictions, closing most non-essential businesses.
NSW too has seen a recent spike in COVID transmissions and remains on high alert. Alarmed by what is happening in Victoria, other states and territories have begun imposing new restrictions amid fears they too could see a sharp rise in infections.
“Containment measures will need to remain in place for an indeterminate period which means nurses, midwives and personal care workers will continue to face challenging working conditions,” Professor Eckert said.
A survey conducted by Wellbeing SA in June found almost one in five South Australian adults suffered “psychological distress” in the wake of COVID-related social and financial problems.
The ANMF (SA Branch) is urging nurses, midwives and personal care workers to take part and share the COVID-19 Workforce Survey with their colleagues.
“The results from the survey will arm us with a heightened level of preparedness to ensure the health system has the appropriate support and resources for the emotional, psychological and physical wellbeing of the workforce during a pandemic,” Professor Eckert said.
As Australia continues to deal with the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, this survey is an opportunity for nurses, midwives and personal care workers to provide feedback on the implications for their professional practice and occupational wellbeing.
“Every voice is vital to provide critical insights to advocate for workplace improvements that lead to enhanced wellbeing, job satisfaction and quality of care,’’ Ms Dabars said.
People can take part in the survey by visiting
https://is.gd/covidandwork
About the Rosemary Bryant AO Research Centre
The Rosemary Bryant AO Research Centre is a partnership between the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation (SA Branch), the Rosemary Bryant Foundation and the University of South Australia. The centre aims to strengthen the role of the nursing and midwifery professions across the health system through the development of a research-driven, evidence-based platform of health care.