Nurses’ strategies for the continuity of care of hospitalized patients with COVID-19: a qualitative study

Objective: This study aims to describe the strategies employed by nurses to ensure continuity of care for hospitalized patients with COVID-19 following their discharge. Method: A qualitative, descriptive approach was adopted. Individual semi-structured interviews were conducted with 37 registered nurses from ten university hospitals in Brazil between June 2021 and January 2022. Thematic analysis was used to examine the data. Results: Three main categories emerged from data analysis. The findings highlighted that nurses’ roles in discharge planning and ensuring continuity of care are not defined by standardized hospital protocols. Instead, continuity of care is facilitated within the hospital environment through strategies developed by nurses, often with support from other health care workers. These strategies include mapping patients’ needs, providing information about diagnoses and necessary home care, and establishing contact with primary health care services. Conclusion: Nurses play a critical role in coordinating both nursing and multiprofessional teams to ensure the continuity of care for patients with COVID-19. This process is supported by the development of specific strategies tailored to the hospital environment. However, in most federal university hospitals, there is a pressing need to train nurses and multidisciplinary teams in these practices. Establishing organizational protocols that formalize continuity of care measures is also critical.