Dr Matt Roskruge discusses his research into the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic and lockdown on nurses in Aotearoa New Zealand. He is co-director of Te Au Rangahau Māori Business Research Centre at Massey University.
Dr Roskruge and his colleagues aim to “change the way we value and support our nurses” and address workforce sustainability with resilience strategies for nursing staff and their employers.
He says, “Nurses comprise a large, diverse and essential population within the health workforce. While they are trained to deal with the many challenges working in health presents, this pandemic creates new stressors and vulnerabilities, placing strain on their wellbeing. Nursing staff are central to the provision of clinical and community healthcare, and their wellbeing during times of crises such as the Covid-19 pandemic is of primary importance to the nursing workforce and the entirety of our health system.”