‘Head held high and carrying on’: Reflections from GPNs on the impact of COVID-19
Abstract
Twitter is a useful tool for nurses to use to share experiences and network, particularly while opportunities to meet face-to-face are reduced. Heather Henry gives an overview of a tweet chat on how COVID-19 has affected nurses working in general practice
Six months into the coronavirus pandemic, a group of general practice nurses (GPNs), with the Twitter handle @WeGPNs, and Ellen Nicholson, the chair of Royal College of Nursing GPN Forum (@RCNGPNForum), held a joint tweet chat to gain feedback on the impact of COVID-19 on nurses working in general practice.
Early on in the pandemic, advising patients about their at-risk category took a lot of time and energy. There was a rapid move from face-to-face to virtual consultations, which proved a challenge due to mastering the technology and overcoming a lack of non-verbal cues during consultations. Other nurses experienced difficulties with internet coverage and patients struggling with technology. Nurse-patient relationships have changed too:
‘Yes we have adapted to using technology, but we came into nursing to see patients and hold their hands. This has been emotionally difficult.’
Barry Clark, GPN, Oldham 
A rapid move to virtual consultations has been challenging for some
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