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Nurses are central players in the provision of quality health care globally. Although neonatal units have not been at the epicenter of the current COVID-19 pandemic, challenges have also been raised for neonatal nurses. KWTRP share their COVID-19 related experiences and challenges, highlight strategies they used to manage the challenges and show how elements of the communication skills and emotional competence course helped them cope.

Healthcare workers in a busy neonatal ward in Kenya

In the COVID-19 pandemic, factors such as a shortage of medical resources, long busy shifts, restrictions on socialization, and the pain of losing infected colleagues, as well as the fear of getting infected and infecting family members, all have contributed to high levels of stress among nurses. How do they cope?

Before the COVID-19 pandemic, researchers at KWTRP had initiated a communication skills and emotional competence course for nurse managers, which came to a halt with travel restrictions. In a series of follow-up informal calls, these nurse managers reported being emotionally exhausted and struggling with burnout. In response, we organized three online peer psychosocial support sessions to share experiences; support each other and identify strategies to manage the challenges. 12 neonatal nurse managers from seven counties participated.

The brief is available on the KWTRP website

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