Psychological impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on nurses and midwives

In response to findings of the Impact of Covid-19 on Nurses survey study, conducted in 2020, a subsequent study explored nurses’ qualitative experiences of the pandemic; this article discusses the results. Most participants struggled to transition to new working practices in altered care settings with more critically ill patients, and most experienced high levels of stress and psychological distress. Key themes included duty and fear, resilience and stigma, changing public responses, nurses’ voices, and leaving the profession. There is an urgent need to support and restore nurses’ psychological wellbeing, and to improve their working conditions to enhance retention rates