The impact, role and experiences of nurses working in medical quarantine during the COVID-19 pandemic: a narrative review

Aim: To understand the impact, role and experience of nurses working in medical hotel quarantine during the COVID-19 pandemic. Background: Medical Hotel Quarantine was staffed predominantly by nurses to prevent the spread of COVID-19 when people who were COVID-19 positive were unable to isolate safely in their communities. Review Methods: A narrative review was conducted to understand how nurses made meaning of their experience. Seven databases were searched (Google Scholar, CINAHL, COCHRANE, MEDLINE, Joanna Briggs Institute, PsychInfo and Scopus) following the PRISMA Methodological Guideline (between August 2021 and January 2022). A summary table was developed with the headings: author and year, country, study design and data collection, participants, critical appraisal rating and results. Using a Critical Realist lens, the data were analysed using thematic analysis and a stratified ontology of the Real, the Actual and the Empirical domains in medical hotel quarantine to understand how the complex nature of nursing care worked within this unique environment. Results: Nurses were pivotal to the success of medical hotel quarantine. The Critical realist lens demonstrated how this was a stressful environment as health information was updated and policies and requirements changed. Although there were reports of stigma outside work, many nurses reported that they felt a sense of duty caring for patients experiencing isolation. Discussion: There is little research about nurses working in medical hotel quarantine during COVID-19. Conclusion: Further research is required to understand how nurses managed these facilities to protect the community when future pandemics occur. Implication for the Profession: It is important that the lessons from medical hotel quarantine are recorded so that future nurses can be guided by the experience of nurses who worked in hotel quarantine if they are required to work in this unique area of practice.