Abstract
Introduction: Although there are studies evaluating the anxiety levels of nurses during COVID-19 pandemic, no study was found evaluating the clinical decision-making skills of nurses and the correlation between anxiety and clinical decision-making. Objectives: In this study, the anxiety level experienced by nurses providing care for COVID-19 diagnosed patients during the pandemic, their clinical decision-making skills and the correlation between them were evaluated. Methods: A descriptive and correlational study was completed with 150 nurses who were working in two pandemic hospitals in Istanbul between July and October 2020. The data were collected using Structured Questions Form, State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) and Clinical Decision Making in Nursing Scale (CDMNS). Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and Pearson correlation analysis. Significance level was accepted as p<0.05. Results: STAI and CDMNS mean scores of the nurses were 50.59±10.20 and 142.22±14.57, respectively. There was no statistically significant correlation between the state anxiety level and clinical decision-making skills of the nurses participating in the study (p>0.05). Nurses’ age, educational level and professional experience duration had a positive and statistically significant correlation with CDMNS total scores (p<0.05). Conclusions: State anxiety levels and clinical decision-making skills of the nurses were high during COVID-19 pandemic and there was no correlation between anxiety level and clinical decision-making skills.
Highlights
There are studies evaluating the anxiety levels of nurses during COVID-19 pandemic, no study was found evaluating the clinical decision-making skills of nurses and the correlation between anxiety and clinical decision-making
State anxiety levels and clinical decision-making skills of the nurses were high during COVID-19 pandemic and there was no correlation between anxiety level and clinical decision-making skills
Clinical decision making, which is a part of the nursing process and adopted as a problem-solving approach by nurses [12], is a complex cognitive process involving the synthesis of information obtained through analysis, interpretation, explanation, inquiry, evaluation, communication, experience and observation
Summary
There are studies evaluating the anxiety levels of nurses during COVID-19 pandemic, no study was found evaluating the clinical decision-making skills of nurses and the correlation between anxiety and clinical decision-making. It has been reported that healthcare professionals experience psychological problems such as anxiety, stress disorder and depression during the COVID-19 pandemic [5,6]. It is reported that nurses are at risk in terms of psychological distress and mental health problems since they meet the care needs of COVID-19 diagnosed patients [11] and even more anxiety is observed in nurses than physicians [5,10]. As in COVID-19 pandemic period, nurses may have to make clinical decisions in a short time in versatile and complex environments in the healthcare system [11]. Nurses’ knowledge, clinical experience, individual characteristics (intuition, selfconfidence, healthy skepticism, etc.), complexity of the decision situation, and properties of the decision environment affect nurses to make correct and effective clinical decisions [15,16,17]
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