Providing targeted psychological support to frontline nurses involved in the management of COVID-19: An action research

Aim To develop and implement a targeted psychological support scheme for frontline nurses involved in the management of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Background Nurses play a vital role in managing the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, while confronting enormous challenges and psychological problems. Methods Action research design was adopted to develop and provide a targeted psychological support scheme to 1,496 frontline nurses. Data regarding nurses' feedback were collected from WeChat group chat, letters and comments on theme lectures. Subsequently, qualitative content analysis was conducted using MAXQDA. Results A targeted psychological support scheme was formed via three action cycles according to nurses' needs. Frontline nurses received psychological assistance from a research team, which offered (1) a sense of belonging, (2) a sense of professional value and pride, and (3) a sense of being protected and confident. Conclusion The researchers successfully provided targeted psychological support to nurses, and nurses were motivated and became more confident when their needs were addressed. Implications for Nursing Management Nurses have various types of psychological needs, which could be addressed by targeted support. It is suggested that nurse managers should identify nurses' needs in real time and provide appropriate support through multidisciplinary collaboration to improve their confidence and enhance their resilience.