Keeping our borders safe: The social stigma of nursing in managed isolation and quarantine border facilities during the COVID-19 pandemic 

Abstract
This article reports on a qualitative, single centre descriptive study on the experiences of nurses working in managed isolation and quarantine facilities (MIQFs) in Aotearoa New Zealand. Semi-structed interviews, via Zoom, took place with 14 registered nurses. The focus of this article is on the personal and social impacts on the nurses. The four themes discussed are: protecting the community while being a risk to the community; the barriers beyond the borders – social stigma; kept at distance - families and social connections; and a part of, but apart from, other health professionals. This study captures a unique moment in the history of Aotearoa New Zealand and highlights how the nurses’ professional and personal lives were significantly impacted. Unlike other studies of nurses caring for COVID-19 patients, the MIQF nurses were caring for guests who were in isolation due to the Aotearoa New Zealand’s government directive to protect the borders from people returning to the country. The study offers valuable lessons for employers, colleagues, and the wider community about the necessity of supporting nurses through times of a pandemic. 

Te Reo Māori translation 

Ngā ariā matua 
Ko tā tēnei tuhinga he tāpae pūrongo mō tētahi rangahau kounga whakamārama pūtahi kotahi mō ngā wheako o ngā tapuhi mahi i roto i ngā whare noho takitahi me ngā whare taratahi (MIQF) i Aotearoa.  I whakahaeretia ētahi uiuinga āhua ōkawa nei nā te Zoom, ki ētahi tapuhi rēhita, 14 huia katoatia. Ko te aronga nui o tēnei tuhinga ko ngā pānga whaiaro pānga pāpori hoki ki ngā tapuhi. E whā ngā tāhuhu i wetekina: ko te tiaki i te hapori i te wā o te mōrearea ki te hapori; ngā maioro kei tua atu i ngā tomokanga – ngā take whakamā i te hapori; te noho ki mamao - ngā whānau me ngā hononga ā-pāpori; me te noho hei wāhi, ahakoa tawhiti te noho, o ētahi atu rōpū kaimahi hauora ngaio. Ka hopukina ngā āhuatanga o tētahi wā motuhake i Aotearoa, i tēnei rangahau, hei konei ka kitea te pānga nui ki ngā oranga ngaio, whaiaro hoki o tēnei mea te tapuhi.   He rerekē tēnei rangahau i ētahi atu rangahau mātai ki ngā mahi taurima a ngā tapuhi tiaki i ngā tūroro o COVID-19.  I te taurima ngā tapuhi Whare Taratahi i ngā manuhiri noho takitahi, i raro anō i te whakahau a te kāwanatanga o Aotearoa kia tiakina ngā tomokanga i ētahi atu tāngata hoki mai ki tēnei motu. He nui ngā akoranga whai take mō ngā kaituku mahi, ngā hoa mahi me te hapori whānui, mō te hira o te tautoko i ā tātou tapuhi i ngā wā o te tētahi mate urutā.

Keywords / Ngā kupu matua
COVID-19; border protection / te tiaki i ngā tomokanga; isolation and quarantine / te noho takitahi me te taratahi; stigma / ngā take whakamā; nurses / ngā tapuhi