Healthcare Management Issues in Nursing Practice during the COVID-19 Pandemic in the Malaysian Context

Jamilah Shaari; Norliza Hussin; Rusnani Ab Latif; Mohd Roslan Rosnon

doi:10.21834/e-bpj.v10iSI35.7516

Authors

Jamilah Shaari Speech Pathology Program, School of Health Sciences, USM Health Campus, Kubang Kerian, Kelantan, Malaysia.
Norliza Hussin Nursing Program, School of Health Sciences, USM Health Campus, Kubang Kerian, Kelantan, Malaysia.
Rusnani Ab Latif Universiti Teknologi MARA Penang Branch, Campus Bertam, Malaysia.
Mohd Roslan Rosnon Faculty of Human Ecology, Universiti Putra Malaysia.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.21834/e-bpj.v10iSI35.7516

Keywords:

COVID-19, Healthcare Management issue, Nursing practice, Pandemic

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic imposed critical challenges on Malaysia’s healthcare system, placing immense pressure on nurses. This study investigates key nursing management issues, including work overload, psychological stress, and adaptation to frequently changing SOPs. Nurses faced urgent demands for critical care with limited resources, inadequate rest, and continuous use of PPE. The sudden implementation of COVID-19 wards and evolving clinical guidelines led to a chaotic work environment. The study aims to examine changes in work practices, nurse adaptability, patient care strategies, and required expertise in managing COVID-19 cases, ultimately offering insights to strengthen nursing management in future public health crises.

References

Aydogdu, A. L. F. (2023). Challenges faced by nurse managers during the COVID-19 pandemic: An integrative review. Journal of research in Nursing, 28(1), 54-69.

Azlan, A. A., Hamzah, M. R., Sern, T. J., Ayub, S. H., & Mohamad, E. (2020). Public knowledge, attitudes, and practices towards COVID-19: A cross-sectional study in Malaysia. PLOS ONE, 15(5), e0233668. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0233668

Chong, M. C., Wang, C., Chien, T. W., & Lin, C. (2021). The impact of COVID-19 on nurses in Malaysia: A cross-sectional survey. Frontiers in Public Health, 9, 744873. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2021.744873

Gonzalez, A. A., & Davis, S. (2022). Nurse-patient communication on the south Texas border: Negotiating language and cultural discordance during the COVID-19 pandemic. Frontiers in Communication, 7, 998434.

Hossny, E. K., Morsy, S. M., Ahmed, A. M., Saleh, M. S. M., Alenezi, A., & Sorour, M. S. (2022). Management of the COVID-19 pandemic: Challenges, practices, and organizational support. BMC nursing, 21(1), 196.

Huerta-González, S., Caro-Alonso, P. Á., Rodríguez-Martín, B., Castillo-Sarmiento, C. A., Pedrera-Zamorano, J. D., Chimpén-López, C., & López-Espuela, F. (2024). Nurses’ perceptions of the performance of nurse managers and senior hospital management during the COVID-19 pandemic. BMC nursing, 23(1), 455.

Ibrahim, M., Hassan, N., & Lee, C. (2022). Occupational challenges among nurses in Malaysia during the COVID-19 pandemic. Asian Journal of Nursing, 15(1), 23–30.

Ismail, S. A., Noor, M. N., & Jamil, A. (2021). Training and preparedness of nurses during the COVID-19 crisis in Malaysia. Journal of Nursing Education and Practice, 11(5), 45–52.

Khamisa, N., Oldenburg, B., Peltzer, K., & Ilic, D. (2021). Work-related stress, burnout, job satisfaction and general health of nurses. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(4), 1691. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18041691

Kiger, M. E., & Varpio, L. (2020). Thematic analysis of qualitative data: AMEE Guide No. 131. Medical Teacher, 42(8), 846–854.

King, M., Farrington, A., Donohue, G. & McCann, E. (2022). Psychological impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on mental health nurses. Issues in Mental Health Nursing, 43(4), pp. 300-307.

Lim, H. L., Ariffin, N., & Tan, M. K. (2021). Communication breakdown and SOP confusion among Malaysian nurses: A qualitative study. Malaysian Journal of Health Sciences, 19(2), 67–74.

Ministry of Health Malaysia. (2020). COVID-19 response and health system capacity in Malaysia. Putrajaya.

Ministry of Health Malaysia. (2021). Post-pandemic nursing workforce strategy. Putrajaya.

Mohd Noor, A., Sulaiman, S., & Chong, Y. H. (2021). Challenges in infection control among nurses during COVID-19 in Malaysia. Journal of Infection and Public Health, 14(9), 1234–1239.

Rahman, R., Yusof, F., & Ahmad, Z. (2021). Impact of COVID-19 on Malaysian nurses: A review of staffing and healthcare delivery. Malaysian Journal of Nursing, 13(1), 11–17.

Rose, L., Yu, L., Casey, J., Cook, A., Metaxa, V., Pattison, N., & Meyer, J. (2021). Communication and virtual visiting for families of patients in intensive care during the COVID-19 pandemic: a UK national survey. Annals of the American Thoracic Society, 18(10), 1685-1692.

Roslan, N. S., Yusof, M. M., & Sidi, H. (2022). Challenges faced by Malaysian nurses during the COVID-19 pandemic: A qualitative study. Nursing Open, 9(2), 1174–1182. https://doi.org/10.1002/nop2.1112

Schoberer, D., Reiter, L., Thonhofer, N., & Hoedl, M. (2023). Occupational relationships and working duties of nursing management staff during the COVID-19‐19 pandemic: A qualitative analysis of survey responses. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 79(3), 1018-1030.

Singh, D. D. (2025). An evaluation of training strategies among healthcare professionals during the COVID-19 pandemic: A cross-sectional survey study (Doctoral dissertation, Molloy University).

Sulaiman, N., Hashim, R., & Tan, Y. H. (2021). Mental health burden among frontline nurses during COVID-19: The Malaysian experience. International Journal of Mental Health Nursing, 30(5), 1201–1208.

Tan, L., Chua, H., & Ong, J. (2020). Emotional distress and burnout among nurses during COVID-19 in Southeast Asia. Nursing & Health Sciences, 22(3), 573–580.

Vaz, M., D'Silva, C., Krishna, B., Ramachandran, P., D’Souza, M. C., Mendonca, L., & D’Souza, M. C. (2023). Understanding the challenges of intensive care staff in communicating with patients and patients’ families during the COVID-19 crisis: A qualitative exploration. Cureus, 15(6).

World Health Organization (WHO). (2020). State of the world's nursing 2020: Investing in education, jobs and leadership. https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240003279

Yusof, Z., Hamid, R., & Salleh, N. (2021). Staff redistribution and continuity of care in Malaysian hospitals during COVID-19. Journal of Hospital Management, 18(4), 201–207.Hamzah, N. B., Ismail, S., & Ghani, S. N. (2021). Mental health and psychological resilience among Malaysian healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. Malaysian Journal of Medicine and Health Sciences, 17(2), 76–84.