Impact of COVID-19 on Selected Nurse and Patient Outcomes in Emergency Units Across South Africa

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INTRODUCTION: Worldwide, emergency nurses experience worse nurse outcomes (burnout, physical and mental health, compassion fatigue, and job and career satisfaction), further exacerbated by the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic, although poorly reported in developing countries. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the pandemic's impact on nurse and patient outcomes in emergency units in South Africa. METHODS: A cross-sectional correlational design was used, with data collected from 2 different groups in the public and private sectors after the second and third coronavirus disease 2019 waves using a questionnaire. Purposive sampling of 116 private sector and 27 public sector emergency units (total n = 143) and total population sampling of nurses (n = 332) were used. RESULTS: South African emergency nurses experienced high levels of emotional exhaustion (mean = 28.03; SD = 1.08) and moderate job satisfaction (mean = 2.81; SD = 0.07), being particularly dissatisfied with salary/wages (mean = 2.15; SD = 0.07). More than a quarter (25.30%) planned to quit their jobs. Participants rated patient safety positively (mean = 2.32; SD = 0.09). Nurses responding after the third wave of the pandemic reported higher rates of compassion fatigue (odds ratio, 3.2; 95% CI, 1.01-10.1; P = .047) and dissatisfaction with both professional status (odds ratio, 2.23; 95% CI, 1.13-4.40; P = .02) and independence at work (odds ratio, 2.21; 95% CI, 1.24-3.94; P = .047, P = .01). There were practically significant correlations between job satisfaction and recommending one's workplace (r = -0.44; P < .001) and emotional exhaustion and confidence in postdischarge care (r = 0.40; P < .001). DISCUSSION: An association between coronavirus disease 2019 and nurse and patient outcomes in South African emergency units exists, highlighting emotional exhaustion, compassion fatigue, and job dissatisfaction concerns. Significant correlations were identified between nurse and nurse-reported patient outcomes. Addressing these concerns is critical to achieving better outcomes and planning for future health emergencies.