The Yo-Yo Effect”

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Social Workers’ Experiences with Job Flexibility during the Pandemic

Datos Bibliográficos

ID10550860
AutoresDerrick Kranke (0000-0003-1641-0808, Veterans Emergency Management Evaluation Center (VEMEC), U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Derrick Kranke, PhD, is health science specialist, , 16111 Plummer Street, MS-152, North Hills, CA 91343, USA, autor de correspondencia), Debbie Gioia (School of Social Work, University of Maryland Debbie Gioia, PhD, is associate professor, , Baltimore, MD, USA), Nikola R Alenkin, Nikola Alenkin (VA Nikola Alenkin, PhD, is a supervisory social worker, , Los Angeles, CA, USA), Yvonne Mudoh (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Yvonne Mudoh, MPH, is project manager, , Atlanta, GA, USA), Emily Solorzano (VEMEC Emily Solorzano, MA, is project manager, , VA, North Hills, CA, USA), Aram Dobalian (0000-0002-9941-4275, The Ohio State University)
Año2023
Volumen68
Número3
Páginas230-239
Fecha de publicación2023-04-25
Peer ReviewedSí
Open AccessSí
TipoARTICLE
RevistaSocial Work (JOURNAL)
Identificadores de la revistaISSN: 0037-8046 • E-ISSN: 1545-6846
EditorialOxford University Press (OUP) (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1093/sw/swad013
PMID37186154
OpenAlexW4366976193
IdiomaEN
Referencias citadas22

Social work turnover from the emotional overload of providing care during the pandemic has created staff shortages and exposed many gaps in service delivery. Those social workers who sustained employment during this pandemic are asked to take on flexible/additional roles to fill in those gaps in services to their most vulnerable clients. This qualitative study (N = 12) of U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) inpatient social workers at two sites across the country assesses their experiences of taking on additional roles at their respective VA facility. Three research questions were addressed to the participants: (1) Describe your roles and responsibilities during the COVID-19 pandemic? (2) How did those responsibilities change/evolve over time? and (3) Did you receive training for your new roles or tasks? Thematic analysis revealed six themes that would facilitate effectiveness and continuity of care: (1) recognizing insufficient training to handle a pandemic, (2) meeting the demand for care, (3) responding to unexpected aspects of flexibility, (4) adjusting to new roles over time, (5) adaptation and support, and (6) additional resources to simplify efforts. With COVID rates stabilizing across much of the United States, now is the time to implement trainings and education about job flexibility in the future instance of a pandemic

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19 · Economics · Flexibility (engineering · Management · Medical education · Pandemic · Political science · Public relations · Qualitative research · Sociology · Thematic analysis · Veterans Affairs · Work (physics · COVID-19 and Mental Health · Geriatric Care and Nursing Homes · Medicine · Nursing · Psychology · Social Work Education and Practice · Social Work