Juana Jiménez-Sánchez

Workplace violence against nurses and midwives intensified during the COVID‐19 pandemic, exposing and amplifying longstanding structural marginalization in health systems across Latin America. This study analyzes how different forms of violence were experienced and described by nursing professionals during this period. A secondary qualitative analysis was conducted using text‐based responses from an international online survey developed by the Global Consortium, which included 3860 nurses and midwives from 18 Latin American and Caribbean countries. Data were examined through Descending Hierarchical Classification using IRaMuTeQ, followed by reflective thematic analysis for interpretive integration. The analysis identified five lexical classes, reorganized into three interconnected themes: direct violence related to care delivery and system collapse; stigma, fear, and disruption of social belonging; and ethical–political suffering associated with structural blame, moral suffering, and moral injury. Despite contextual differences across countries, narratives revealed recurring patterns of emotional overload, professional delegitimization, and exposure to multiple forms of violence. These findings position violence against nursing professionals during the pandemic as a structural and multifaceted phenomenon rooted in historical inequities and institutional fragility, underscoring the need for sustained policies that strengthen workforce protection, ethical accountability, and institutional support in both routine healthcare settings and future public health emergencies.

Aim(s): To determine common and distinct factors experienced by nurses working in acute care settings during the second year of the COVID‐19 pandemic. Design: An online qualitative descriptive study with eight open‐ended questions and a comprehensive demographic profile administered via the Qualtrics XM survey software. Methods: Thirteen countries formed teams and led online data collection in their respective countries through various approaches. The data collection period occurred between January 1, 2021, and February 28, 2022. Descriptive thematic analysis was conducted in English (with translation), Spanish, and Korean to analyse the qualitative data. Descriptive statistics summarised the responses to the demographic profile. Results: Worldwide, a final sample size of n = 1814 produced 6483 qualitative data points for analysis. The results identified ongoing occupational risk factors for nurses during the pandemic's second year, including mental health issues, yet showed some improvements in access to personal protective equipment and resources. Four themes emerged from the qualitative analysis, highlighting role changes, living states, and insights into the implementation of pandemic response measures. Conclusion: Despite individual occupational risks nurses described, structural factors associated with healthcare delivery produced common nursing experiences during the pandemic. Additionally, at least two distinct stages of pandemic response implementation were demarcated by treatment availability (e.g., vaccine development). Implications for the Profession and/or Patient Care: There is potential for common pandemic response policies for nurses, centered on specific factors, such as the increased provision of mental health support services by healthcare organisations. Impact: This study helped determine the common and distinct work experiences during the second year of the COVID‐19 pandemic. Nurses simultaneously experienced increased workload, role changes, perpetual fear and fatigue, daily hostility, and chaos in the implementation of pandemic responses. The results will impact nurses and those they serve along with future pandemic response policies. Reporting Method: We have adhered to the SRQR reporting guidelines. Patient or Public Contribution: This study did not include patient or public involvement in its design, conduct, or reporting.

Aim: To describe the self‐reported mental health of nurses from 35 countries who worked during the COVID‐19 pandemic.Background: There is little occupationally specific data about nurses' mental health worldwide. Studies have documented the impact on nurses’ mental health of the COVID‐19 pandemic, but few have baseline referents.Methods: A descriptive, cross‐sectional design structured the study. Data reflect a convenience sample of 9,387 participants who completed the opt‐in survey between July 31, 2022, and October 31, 2023. Descriptive statistics were run to analyze the following variables associated with mental health: Self‐reports of mental health symptoms, burnout, personal losses during the pandemic, access to mental health services, and self‐care practices used to cope with pandemic‐related stressors. Reporting of this study was steered by the STROBE guideline for quantitative studies.Results: Anxiety or depression occurred at rates ranging from 23%–61%, with country‐specific trends in reporting observed. Approximately 18% of the sample reported experiencing some symptoms of burnout. The majority of nurses’ employers did not provide mental health support in the workplace. Most reported more frequently engaging with self‐care practices compared with before the pandemic. Notably, 20% of nurses suffered the loss of a family member, 35% lost a friend, and 34% a coworker due to COVID‐19. Nearly half (48%) reported experiencing public aggression due to their identity as a nurse.Conclusions: The data obtained establish a basis for understanding the specific mental health needs of the nursing workforce globally, highlighting key areas for service development.Implications for nursing policy: Healthcare organizations and governmental bodies need to develop targeted mental health support programs that are readily accessible to nurses to foster a resilient nursing workforce.

É imprescindível identificar e dar voz à equipe de enfermagem que tem permanecido na linha de frente do cuidado à população ao longo das epidemias e pandemias. Expor as necessidades particulares desses profissionais através de perspectivas internacionais permitirá que sejam feitas propostas como região para melhorar as condições de trabalho.

It is imperative to identify and give voice to the Nursing personnel that have remained in the first line of care to the population during epidemics and pandemics. Presenting the particular needs of these professionals through international perspectives will allow proposals to be made in the regional scope to improve the working conditions.

Es imperante identificar y dar voz al personal de enfermería quienes han permanecido en la primera línea de atención a la población a lo largo de las epidemias y pandemias. Exponer las necesidades particulares de estos profesionales mediante perspectivas internacionales, permitirán hacer propuestas como región para mejorar las condiciones laborales.

La enfermería reconocida como disciplina profesional cuenta con conocimientos dirigidos al cuidado de la vida humana, su desarrollo la ha diferenciado de otras disciplinas dándole visibilidad particular desde cuatro roles: gestión, enseñanza, investigación y atención clínica. Para lo cual se generó una reflexión sobre los impactos positivos y negativos del evolucionar de enfermería en América Latina ante estos roles, desde la gestión se evidencia avances importantes desde el liderazgo gremial y organizacional, pero retrocesos en el escalamiento político, e institucional. Existe brecha de la formación profesional en comparación a otras regiones, aun así, el crecimiento de programas educativos ha dado la posibilidad de la profesionalización, pero debate el reto de la calidad, la disparidad formativa y la oferta centrada en el paradigma clínico. En el campo investigativo se resalta la creación de programas doctorales y post graduales que amplían la generación de conocimiento, pero también se evidencian barreras en la transferencia y visibilidad colectiva del conocimiento. En el área clínica espacio con mayor abordaje de las acciones formativas y laborales del profesional, cuenta con grandes retos en su crecimiento, organización, escalamiento, seguridad y precariedad laboral. En esa perspectiva la comunidad U-Nursing LatAm se ha integrado para aportar a la región en estos retos. Finalmente se concluye que la mayoría de los desafíos son relacionados con las habilidades sociales y blandas que deben potencializarse en el plano personal y colectivo. Todas las situaciones requieren tener una valoración directa de las posibilidades de fortalecer y mejorar la enfermería desde cada país de la región, teniendo en cuenta los cuatro roles.