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Nurses experience heightened stress and significant challenges when caring for hospitalized healthcare professionals compared to general patients, regardless of whether they are in intensive or acute care settings. Novelty: ClaimNovelty.INCREMENTAL. Consensus alignment: ConsensusAlignment.NEUTRAL.

October 31, 2025Australian Critical Care3 citationsOpen Access

The experiences and challenges of caring for a healthcare professional patient in intensive and acute care settings: A cross-sectional exploratory survey

LHLynne HuntThe University of Sydney MRMelissa RiegelThe University of Sydney RGRobyn GallagherGeneral / Preventive / Lipids

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Abstract

BACKGROUND: Hospital admission can be a stressful experience for patients and their families. Although healthcare professionals can also be patients, there is limited understanding of nurses' experiences when caring for them in hospital settings. AIM: The aims of this study were to explore the challenges nurses encounter while caring for hospitalised healthcare professionals and to compare experiences between participants in intensive care unit and acute care settings. METHODS: A cross-sectional exploratory study was conducted in July 2022 using an online survey via Research Electronic Data Capture (REDCap) with registered nurses who had cared for a healthcare professional-patient within the previous 3 years. RESULTS: Sixty-nine participants were included, with a mean age of 44.8 years and a mean of 18.8 years of experience as a registered nurse; 49% worked in intensive care and 51% in acute care settings, including surgery, emergency, and cardiology. A substantial 63.7% reported that caring for healthcare professional-patients was more challenging, while 49.3% found it more stressful than caring for non-healthcare professional-patients. Only 3% had received prior education that supported them in this role, despite 87% feeling prepared to deliver care and 75% feeling comfortable doing so. Open-ended questions reflecting on their experience caring for healthcare professional-patients generated three themes: enhanced support and knowledge needed to facilitate the role reversal of healthcare professionals becoming patients, recognising and respecting the evolving dynamics in caring for healthcare professionals as patients, and tailoring communication to align with individual needs and prior knowledge. There were no differences between intensive care unit participants and acute care participants regarding feeling prepared, experiencing stress, or feeling challenged caring for health professional-patients. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, many nurses face significant challenges and heightened stress while caring for hospitalised healthcare professionals, whether in intensive care or acute care environments. The findings highlight a critical need for enhanced training and support to address the unique dynamics and communication requirements of these situations.

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