Frontline nurses' experiences of managing visitor restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic in a Danish university hospital - Lessons learned.

Abstract

Background: Worldwide visitor restrictions forced nurses to separate patients from their relatives. However, the experience of implementing shifting restrictions from the frontline nurses' perspectives in a Danish context has yet to be assessed.

Aim: The aim of this descriptive qualitative study was to explore frontline nurses' experiences of managing shifting visitor restrictions in a Danish somatic university hospital during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods: An online questionnaire, including open-ended questions, was developed. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics and content analysis.

Findings: 116 nurses from 29 departments participated; they were informed about restrictions primarily by their charge nurses and hospital intranet. Shifting visitor restrictions compelled the nurses to constantly adjust and negotiate their practices. When deciding to suggest deviating from the restrictions, they shared their decision-making with colleagues. Visitor restrictions left the hospital environment quieter, but they also created a lack of overview and predictability, an emotional burden, and a negative impact on the quality of care.

Conclusion: Restricting relatives' access challenged the nurses' professional values, and it seems to have affirmed their appreciation of relatives' role as important partners in contemporary hospital-based health care.