Challenges Faced by Apheresis Nurses in the COVID-19 Pandemic

Year 2022, Volume: 7 Issue: 1, 133 - 137, 31.01.2022

Merve Gözde Sezgin , Hicran Bektaş

Abstract

Morbidity and mortality rates due to COVID-19 infection are increasing rapidly all over the world. Antifungal drugs, mechanical or non-invasive ventilation, antibiotics for secondary infections, anticoagulants, and supportive treatments are used in the treatment of COVID-19 patients. In addition to the treatment processes, apheresis treatment can be applied with plasma collected from individuals whose disease has completely recovered. The implementation of apheresis treatments brings great responsibilities and difficulties to apheresis nurses. Apheresis nurses have roles and responsibilities such as carrying out apheresis applications, evaluating the symptoms that patients frequently experience and the severity of these symptoms, effective symptom management, empowering and educating patients, emergency management, and infection control. Apheresis nurses witness patients whose health condition deteriorates immediately, provide symptom management, and work with personal protective equipment without interruption for a long time. Apheresis nurses need to be supported in terms of protecting their health, stress management, and professional self-care during the COVID-19 process. This review was made to examine the difficulties experienced by apheresis nurses in the COVID-19 pandemic.

Keywords

Apheresis nurse, COVID-19, pandemic, nursing

COVID-19 Pandemisinde Aferez Hemşirelerinin Yaşadıkları Zorluklar

Abstract

COVID-19 enfeksiyonuna bağlı morbitide ve mortalite oranları tüm dünyada hızla artmaktadır. COVID-19 hastalarının tedavisinde antifungal ilaçlar, mekanik veya noninvazif ventilasyon, sekonder enfeksiyonlar için antibiyotikler, antikoagülanlar ve destek tedavileri kullanılmaktadır. Tedavi süreçlerine ek olarak hastalığı tamamen iyileşen bireylerden toplanan plazmayla birlikte aferez tedavisi uygulanabilmektedir. Aferez tedavisinin uygulanması, aferez hemşirelerine oldukça büyük sorumluluklar ve beraberinde zorluklar getirmektedir. Aferez hemşirelerinin, aferez uygulamalarının yürütülmesi, hastaların sık yaşadıkları semptomların ve bu semptomların şiddetinin değerlendirilmesi, etkin semptom yönetimi, hastaların güçlendirilmesi ve eğitilmesi, acil durum yönetimi, enfeksiyon kontrolü gibi rol ve sorumlulukları bulunmaktadır. Aferez hemşireleri, sağlık durumu anında kötüleşen hastalara tanıklık etmekte, semptom yönetimi sağlamakta, uzun süre ara vermeksizin kişisel koruyucu ekipman ile çalışmaktadır. Aferez hemşirelerinin COVID-19 sürecinde sağlıklarının korunması, stres yönetimi ve mesleki öz bakım açısından desteklenmeleri gerekmektedir. Bu derleme, COVID-19 pandemisinde aferez hemşirelerinin yaşadıkları zorlukların incelenmesi amacıyla yapılmıştır.

Keywords

Aferez hemşiresi, COVID-19, pandemi, hemşirelik

References

• T.C. Sağlık Bakanlığı. COVID-19 pandemisinde sağlık kurumlarında çalışma rehberi ve enfeksiyon kontrol önlemleri. 2020:3-154. [cited 2020 Oct 11.]. Available from: https://covid19.saglik.gov.tr/Eklenti/39606/0/ saglikkurumlarindacalismarehberiveenfeksiyonkontrolonlemleripdf. pdf
• Zhang J, Garrett S, Sun J. Gastrointestinal symptoms, pathophysiology, and treatment in COVID-19. Gen & Dis. 2020 Sep;5:1-17. DOI: 10.1016/j. gendis.2020.08.013.
• World Health Organization [WHO]. WHO Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) dashboard 2021 [cited 2021 Aug 09.]. Available from: https://covid19.who.int/
• World Health Organization [WHO]. Ankara is the capital city of the republic of Turkey. 2021 [cited 2021 Aug 09.]. Available from: https:// covid19.who.int/table
• T.C. Sağlık Bakanlığı. Türkiye COVID-19 hasta tablosu 2021 [cited 2021 Aug 09.]. Available from: https://covid19.saglik.gov.tr/TR-66935/genelkoronavirus- tablosu.html
• Cloosterman KLA, van Middelkoop M, Krastman P, de Vos R-J. Running behavior and symptoms of respiratory tract infection during the COVID-19 pandemic: A large prospective Dutch cohort study. J Sci Med Sport. 2020 Apr;24(4):332-7. DOI: 10.1016/j.jsams.2020.10.009.
• Dreyer NA, Reynolds M, DeFilippo Mack C, Brinkley E, Petruski- Ivleva N, Hawaldar K, et al. Self-reported symptoms from exposure to COVID-19 provide support to clinical diagnosis, triage and prognosis: An exploratory analysis. Travel Med Inf Dis. 2020 Nov;38:101909. DOI: 10.1016/j.tmaid.2020.101909.
• Peng F, Tu L, Yang Y, Hu P, Wang R, Hu Q, et al. Management and treatment of COVID-19: The Chinese Experience. Can J Cardiol. 2020 Jun;36(6):915-30. DOI: 10.1016/j.cjca.2020.04.010.
• Yanchuk L, Sinclair S, Pettman S, Lukianow K. Nurse’s perspective: The effects of COVID-19 in apheresis. Trans and Apher Sci. 2020 Oct;59(5):102937. DOI: 10.1016/j.transci.2020.102937.
• Buheji M, Buhaid N. Nursing human factor during COVID-19 pandemic. Int J Nurs Sci. 2020;10(1):12-24. DOI:10.5923/j. nursing.20201001.02
• Desroches ML, Ailey S, Fisher K, Stych JJD, Journal H. Impact of COVID-19: Nursing challenges to meeting the care needs of people with developmental disabilities. 2020 Jan;14(1):101015. DOI: 10.1016/j. dhjo.2020.101015.
• Brown BL, McCullough J. Treatment for emerging viruses: Convalescent plasma and COVID-19. Transfus Apher Sci. 2020 Jun;59(3):102790. DOI: 10.1016/j.transci.2020.102790.
• Seghatchian J, Lanza F. WITHDRAWN: Convalescent plasma, an apheresis research project targeting and motivating the fully recovered COVID 19 patients: A rousing message of clinical benefit to both donors and recipients alike. Transfus Apher Sci. 2020 Jun;59(3):102792. DOI: 10.1016/j.transci.2020.102792.
• Eckhardt CM, Cummings MJ, Rajagopalan KN, Borden S, Bitan ZC, Wolf A, et al. Evaluating the efficacy and safety of human anti-SARSCoV- 2 convalescent plasma in severely ill adults with COVID-19: A structured summary of a study protocol for a randomized controlled trial. Trials. 2020 Jun;21(1):499. DOI: 10.1186/s13063-020-04422-y.
• Yiğenoğlu TN, Hacıbekiroğlu T, Berber İ, Dal MS, Baştürk A, Namdaroğlu S, et al. Convalescent plasma therapy in patients with COVID-19. J Clin Apher. 2020 Jul;35(4):367-73. DOI: 10.1002/jca.21806.
• Li Y, Liu S, Zhang S, Ju Q, Zhang S, Yang Y, et al. Current treatment approaches for COVID-19 and the clinical value of transfusion-related technologies. Trans and Apher Sci. 2020 Jun;59(5):102839. DOI: 10.1016/j. transci.2020.102839.
• Estcourt LJ, Roberts DJ. Convalescent plasma for COVID-19. BMJ. 2020 Sep;15:370:m3516. DOI: 10.1136/bmj.m3516 x
• Colpo A, Astolfi L, Tison T, De Silvestro G, Marson P. Impact of COVID-19 pandemic in the activity of a therapeutic apheresis unit in Italy. Trans and Apher Sci. 2020 Dec;59(6):102925. DOI: 10.1016/j.transci.2020.102925.
• Seghatchian J, Lanza F. Convalescent plasma, an apheresis research project targeting and motivating the fully recovered COVID 19 patients: A rousing message of clinical benefit to both donors and recipients alike. Trans and Apher Sci. 2020 Jun;59(3):102794. DOI: 10.1016/j. transci.2020.102794.
• Li L, Zhang W, Hu Y, Tong X, Zheng S, Yang J, et al. Effect of convalescent plasma therapy on time to clinical improvement in patients with severe and life-threatening COVID-19: A randomized clinical trial. JAMA. 2020 Aug;324(5):460-70. DOI: 10.1001/jama.2020.10044.
• Altuntaş F, Ata N, Yigenoglu TN, Bascı S, Dal MS, Korkmaz S, et al. Convalescent plasma therapy in patients with COVID-19. Transfus Apher Sci. 2020 Feb;60(1);102955-. DOI: 10.1016/j.transci.2020.102955.
• Yürük Bal E, Çelik H. COVID-19 salgını ile mücadelede hemşirenin rolü. Turkiye Klinikleri J Nurs Sci. 2020 Jun;12(2):300-4. DOI: 10.5336/ nurses.2020-75315.
• World Health Organization [WHO]. Nursing and midwifery 2020 [cited 2020 Oct 11.]. Available from: https://www.who.int/health-topics/ nursing#tab=tab_2.
• Choi KR, Skrine Jeffers K, Cynthia Logsdon M. Nursing and the novel coronavirus: Risks and responsibilities in a global outbreak. 2020 Jul;76(7):1486-7. DOI: 10.1111/jan.14369.
• Huang L, Lin G, Tang L, Yu L, Zhou Z. Special attention to nurses' protection during the COVID-19 epidemic. Crit Care (London, England). 2020 Mar;24(1):120. DOI: 10.1186/s13054-020-2841-7.
• Spear RA, Schmuecker AL, DeGutes SM. Nurse practitioner COVID-19 experience in skilled nursing facilities. The J Nurs Pract. 2020 Nov;17(2):246. DOI: 10.1016/j.nurpra.2020.10.034.
• Al Thobaity A, Alshammari F. Nurses on the frontline against the COVID-19 pandemic: An integrative review. Dubai Me J. 2020 Dec;3:87- 92. DOI: 10.1159/000509361.
• Baykal Ü, Türkmen E, Alan H, Başulaş ÇY, Göktepe N, Gümüş E, et al. Türkiye’de COVID-19 salgını: Kriz yönetiminde yönetici hemşirelerin deneyimleri ve Yönetici Hemşireler Derneği’nin faaliyetleri. 2020 Sep;17(3):290-3. DOI: 10.5222/HEAD.2020.36024.
• Cai Z, Cui Q, Liu Z, Li J, Gong X, Liu J, et al. Nurses endured high risks of psychological problems under the epidemic of COVID-19 in a longitudinal study in Wuhan China. J Psychiatr Res. 2020 Dec;131:132-7. DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2020.09.007.
• Singh S, Cherian Ambooken G, Setlur R, Paul SK, Kanitkar M, Singh Bhatia S, et al. Challenges faced in establishing a dedicated 250 bed COVID-19 intensive care unit in a temporary structure. Trends Anaesth Crit Care. 2020 Feb;36:9-16. DOI: 10.1016/j.tacc.2020.10.006.
• Sun N, Wei L, Shi S, Jiao D, Song R, Ma L, et al. A qualitative study on the psychological experience of caregivers of COVID-19 patients. Am J Inf Con. 2020 Jun;48(6):592-8. doi: 10.1016/j.ajic.2020.03.018
• Hiçdurmaz D, Üzar Özçetin YS. COVID-19 pandemisinde ön safta çalışan hemşirelerin ruhsal sağlığının korunması ve ruhsal travmanın önlenmesi. HUHEMFAD-JOHUFON. 2020 Aug;7(Özel Sayı):1-7. DOI:10.31125/hunhemsire.775531
• Rouka E. The effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on the adequacy of blood supply: Specialists in transfusion medicine need to establish models of preparedness. Trans and Apher Sci. 2020 Sep:102960. DOI: 10.1016/j.transcihac.2020.102960.
• Ngo A, Masel D, Cahill C, Blumberg N, Refaai MA. Blood banking and transfusion medicine challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic. Clin Lab Med. 2020 Aug;40(4):587-601. DOI: 10.1016/j.cll.2020.08.013.
• Cowlan E. COVID-19: A perspective of a frontline worker. Transfus Apher Sci. 2020 Jun;59(3):102783. DOI: 10.1016/j.transci.2020.102783.
• Esmaeili Vardanjani A, Moayedi S, Golitaleb M. COVID-19 pandemic hemoperfusion therapy versus plasma exchange therapy in intensive care. Iran J Allergy Asthma Immunol. 2020 May;19(S1):7-9. DOI: 10.18502/ ijaai.v19i(s1.r1).2848.
• Reyes C, Ornelas CJ, Rollins-Raval MA, Subbaswamy AV, Phillips JP, Raval JS. A strategy to conserve personal protective equipment while performing therapeutic plasma exchange in a patient with COVID-19. J Cinical Apher. 2020 Aug;35(4):374-5. DOI: 10.1002/jca.21801.