A Glance at the Barriers and Enablers of the Nursing Role in Pandemics: An Integrative Review

Abstract

Objective: to analyze the enablers and barriers to nurses’ professional role fulfillment during pandemics and disasters. Materials and methods: this was an integrative review based on the SALSA analytical method, carried out in eight databases, namely: Medline, Proquest, CINAHL, Web of Science, BVS, SpringerLink, Scopus, and Pubmed. The descriptors used were the following: ‘nurse’s role’ AND ‘pandemic’ AND ‘patient’ AND ‘coronavirus infection’, in English, Spanish and Portuguese. Filters along with inclusion and exclusion criteria were applied to the 11,031 articles found, after which the final sample consisted of a total of 32 articles. Results: considering the objectives set and the results obtained, it is noted that all actions focused on three main instances, namely: a) training and updating for role performance; b) predictors, enablers, and barriers for exercising the role in the face of a pandemic; and c) evidence of the role in the face of pandemics. Conclusion: this study allowed understanding both the barriers and the enablers that allow the fulfillment of nurses’ professional role in the face of pandemics or catastrophes. It also clarified that emerging infectious diseases must be addressed in an immediate, collaborative, and multidisciplinary way. Nurses’ experience, leadership, and professional training are key attributes that these professionals possess to enable their role to be more proactive during an emergency situation.