Additional Readings - LPNI

Go to content

Main menu:

Additional Readings

Lessons Learned Through the Pandemic Experience

A Descriptive Study by

Marcia Schnorr, EdD, RN-BC

Carol Zimmermann, MS, RN

Introduction to Study

This study is specifically considering Lutheran parish nurses in the global community. COVID-19 has greatly impacted our personal lives and our professional lives. The purpose of the study is to identify the unique observations and insights that the parish nurse has gained from the pandemic experience. The study seeks to identify how these observations and experiences will influence the future of parish nursing care. In addition, the study asks how these experiences can be useful in encouraging or mentoring the person considering the vocation of nursing and specifically parish nursing.

Literature Review (abbreviated)

Pandemics have been present throughout time and have influenced the course of history by following invading armies and traveling international trade routes. Some of the pandemics in history include smallpox, Bubonic Plague, Spanish Flu, and others. Pandemics of the more current era include HIV/AIDS (1980’s) and SARS (2003).

Martin Luther experienced the bubonic plague when an outbreak reached Wittenberg in August 1527. He advised pastors and church workers to not flee but to stay and minister to those who were suffering. Luther saw the pandemic as a test of our faith and love for God.

Methodology

Grounded theory was used for this qualitative, exploratory methodology. Specifically, a survey guideline was developed that consisted of two parts. The first part consisted of six questions related to demographics. The second part consisted of five questions specific to the focus of the study. Respondents were asked to identify their previous experience, if any, with a pandemic. In addition, they were asked to name three specific things they were able to do for their congregation or population served, three ways they will apply the learning in the future, and any words of wisdom from the experience to share with future nurses

The proposed guideline was critiqued, edited, and piloted before distributing to a convenience sample of three google groups specific to Lutheran parish nurses.

Demographics

The “typical respondent” was from the central region of the USA (62%) and from either a rural/small town (38%) or mid-size town (36%). Years of service ranged from less than one year to over 32 years with the most serving 20 years. Hours of service per month ranged from 22 people serving 1-10 hours to 5 serving over 101 hours per month. Forty percent of the parish nurses work in a more traditional nursing setting as well as serving as a parish nurse.

The largest age group for parish nurses was the 51-70 grouping (58%) A close second was the 71+ age group (42%).

Past Experiences

The first question asked if they had ever experienced something similar before. Forty-four (88%) of the respondents said they had never experienced anything similar to this pandemic before. Six persons responded with one or more example of a previous similar experience. These included when HIV/AIDS was new, polio, SARS, and serving as an army nurse.

Surprises

The second question asked was “What surprised you most about the experience?” The responses can be summarized into four groups.

· Total shutdown with related isolation (28%)

· Mental health concerns (20%)

· Unable to attend church/unable to have pastor or parish nurse visit (14%)

· Frequently changing guidelines (12%)

Parish Nursing Care

The third question asked the respondents to name three specific things they were able to do. After carefully analyzing the characteristics of the various responses, the following actions were noted.

· Creative ways to connect/communicate (76%)

· Consulting with pastor and church leaders regarding guidelines (50%)

· Health education (24%)

· Running errands for the elderly (16%)

· Making face masks or recruiting sewers to make them (10%)

Looking to the Future

The fourth survey item asked participants to name three ways they will apply learning from the pandemic experience to the future. Responses were grouped into three general categories.

· Be more diligent in regular communication (46%)

· Better use of technology (40%)

· Stay up to date on health education (20%)

Words of Wisdom

The final research question was “What other words of wisdom from this experience can you share with young and future nurses?”

· Encourage the parish nurse to maintain personal devotions, prayers, and participation in worship (24%)

· Remain positive and calm (18%)

· Maintain positive self-care (14%)

Summary of Findings

During ordinary times, the roles of the parish nurse reflect the strength of the individual nurse and the needs of the congregation and community in which they serve. Traditionally the roles of the parish nurse would include health education, personal health counseling, liaison to the community, coordination of volunteers, and serving as integrator of faith and healing.

In the early phase of the pandemic, study participants reflected these roles and often expressed frustration and joy as they attempted to find new ways to fulfill these duties. Pressing nursing diagnoses included

· Alterations in communications

· Deficits in human contact

· Loss of shared grieving

The study demonstrated that parish nurses continue to seek to meet the basic human needs of all people. Parish nurses were quick to recognize these needs in parishioners, staff, and themselves. The pandemic duties reflect how parish nurses across the global spectrum worked to meet these needs and to support others in meeting the most basic needs for their congregation and community. When responses were divorced from the demographics, one was not able to discern the location of the response from the action of the parish nurse. The human need expressed and served by parish nurses transcended local congregation, community, and country.

Gallop (2019) continues to report that nursing is the most trusted of the professions. The privilege of caring for people from cradle to grave places parish nurses in a position to genuinely care for the whole person. Parish nurses have gained many unique experiences from the pandemic that will influence current and future nursing care. Parish Nurses reaffirmed their commitment to service and to remaining connected to the word of God.

Throughout the global pandemic experience, parish nurses have shown their care for the profession of nursing and specifically for the church in their application of this experience to mentoring and encouraging others in the vocation of parish nursing.

Conclusions and Recommendations

The methodology selected was appropriate to the purpose of the study which was to discover new knowledge about the practice of parish nursing during a pandemic.

Limitations: Although surveys were distributed to parish nurses within the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod (LCMS) and Lutheran Parish Nurses International, NFP (LPNI) responses were primarily from the LCMS. LPNI includes parish nurses from Australia, Canada, Finland, Germany, Ghana, India, Palestine, Papua New Guinea, and the USA. Several reminders were sent to the participants on the google groups, but very few beyond the USA responded. This may have been due to difficulties with language and/or poor internet connections. The responses did, however, demonstrate that the experiences of parish nurses in the USA was not unique.

Although the survey tool had been reviewed, piloted, and edited, it is still possible that lack of clarity of some demographic items remained.

Recommendations:

· The overwhelming number of responses that noted the need to provide Christ-centered Communications and Connections suggest that parish nurses should consider developing a system that is useful during a pandemic—but that could also be used during extremes of heat or cold that may keep people at home. Smaller epidemics and ill health among those who live alone can create similar feelings of aloneness. Some respondents shared various “buddy systems” that maintain connections and communications with the church family.

· It is recommended that the survey questions and findings of the study be shared among focus groups to reflect upon experiences, discuss challenges, and plan for the future.

· A more complete print copy of the research findings can be obtained by contacting the researchers or www.lpni.org

Additional Findings and Recommendations

· Previous research (Dr. Carol Lueders Bolwerk, 2012 and Dr. Marcia Schnorr, 2015) revealed that most parish nurses were nearing retirement age or older. Ninety-eight percent of the respondents were at least 51 years of age; forty-two percent were over 71 years of age.

· The purpose of the study was not to determine the ages of parish nurses, but it did reaffirm that many parish nurses are approaching or well into their senior years. This truth puts many parish nurses in the “high risk” category for COVID-19 (and possibly future epidemics or pandemics). The gift of time and talent make the parish nurse valuable in providing compassionate care during a pandemic. It is recommended that future researchers explore this phenomenon to best serve the needs of the congregation and the parish nurse.

Contact marcyschnorr2009@gmail.com for more information. A more detailed written report will be available in the spring at a nominal cost.

12/29/2020