Pandemic Paradox: COVID-19's Impact on Nursing and Midwifery Retention
Tracks
Track 1
| Wednesday, July 23, 2025 |
| 12:00 PM - 12:20 PM |
| Royal Theatre |
Overview
Presenter: Dr Laura Hynes MACN
Speaker
Dr Laura Hynes
Univeristy Lecturer
Edith Cowan University
Pandemic Paradox: COVID-19's Impact on Nursing and Midwifery Retention
12:00 PM - 12:20 PMAbstract
Aims: The aim of this study was to investigate Australian Registered Nurses and Registered Midwives’ lived experiences of working through the COVID-19 pandemic and examining how the pandemic affected their intention to stay or leave their job or profession.
Design: Convergent parallel mixed methods study.
Methods: The study was conducted with 306 Registered Nurses, 42 Dual Practicing Registered Nurses and Midwives, and 16 Registered Midwives from across Australia who had worked during the COVID-19 pandemic. The questionnaire was implemented between November 2022 and April 2023. Concurrently, a purposive subset of 11 participants, selected based on eligibility criteria, participated in semi-structured online interviews guided by an Interpretive (Hermeneutic) Phenomenology Model.
Results: Quantitative analysis revealed that midwives had higher relational but lower extrinsic job satisfaction compared to nurses. As a result of the qualitative analysis of the individual interviews, the researchers identified three contexts along with the associated themes and subthemes. These three contexts were ‘The Perfect Storm’, ‘The Cost of Caring’ and ‘Caring in the Shadows’.
Conclusion: The results of this study offer a comprehensive view of job satisfaction in nursing and midwifery following the pandemic. These findings emphasise the complex and interconnected nature of job satisfaction, highlighting the interplay between individual, occupational, and systemic factors.
Implications for the profession: Nurses and midwives are inherently prone to psychological distress due to their professional role and sense of duty. This study highlights the need for organisational adaptability and proactive risk management, shifting the focus from reliance on individual resilience to addressing systemic shortcomings during crises.
Impact: This study's findings enhance the existing literature on job satisfaction and retention among nurses and midwives in Australia. Additionally, this study will inform policy and practice, aiding in the development of sustainable workforce strategies to support and retain health professionals.
Design: Convergent parallel mixed methods study.
Methods: The study was conducted with 306 Registered Nurses, 42 Dual Practicing Registered Nurses and Midwives, and 16 Registered Midwives from across Australia who had worked during the COVID-19 pandemic. The questionnaire was implemented between November 2022 and April 2023. Concurrently, a purposive subset of 11 participants, selected based on eligibility criteria, participated in semi-structured online interviews guided by an Interpretive (Hermeneutic) Phenomenology Model.
Results: Quantitative analysis revealed that midwives had higher relational but lower extrinsic job satisfaction compared to nurses. As a result of the qualitative analysis of the individual interviews, the researchers identified three contexts along with the associated themes and subthemes. These three contexts were ‘The Perfect Storm’, ‘The Cost of Caring’ and ‘Caring in the Shadows’.
Conclusion: The results of this study offer a comprehensive view of job satisfaction in nursing and midwifery following the pandemic. These findings emphasise the complex and interconnected nature of job satisfaction, highlighting the interplay between individual, occupational, and systemic factors.
Implications for the profession: Nurses and midwives are inherently prone to psychological distress due to their professional role and sense of duty. This study highlights the need for organisational adaptability and proactive risk management, shifting the focus from reliance on individual resilience to addressing systemic shortcomings during crises.
Impact: This study's findings enhance the existing literature on job satisfaction and retention among nurses and midwives in Australia. Additionally, this study will inform policy and practice, aiding in the development of sustainable workforce strategies to support and retain health professionals.
Biography
Laura is a Lecturer in the School of Nursing and Midwifery at ECU and continues to practice clinically as a Registered Nurse in a Rural Adult Intensive Care Unit.
Laura's research has always been driven by either a deep concern about an issue (and a focus on how can I improve outcomes for patients/staff) or a strong sense of curiosity to understand and explore a particular area more thoroughly. Her master’s research on barriers to end-of-life care (EOLC) in the ICU highlighted the psychological and physical toll on nurses, as well as the need for strategies to enhance care delivery and staff wellbeing. Two months after completing this study, COVID-19 was declared a global pandemic. Reflecting on the unprecedented challenges posed by the pandemic, Laura felt compelled to pursue further research through a PhD to investigate the short and long-term impacts of the pandemic on the nursing and midwifery workforce in Australia. Through her teaching and research, Laura remains committed to equipping both current and future healthcare professionals with the skills and support systems essential for excellence, while continuing to passionately advocate for strategies that enhance the retention and wellbeing of the existing workforce.
