Stress and Coping Strategies among Frontline Nurses during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Vietnam

Abstract

Objective: This study was conducted to describe the stress situation, the coping strategies and the effective support measures to manage the stress of nurses in South Vietnam for coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) prevention and control. Material and Methods: The cross-sectional descriptive study design was used to achieve the objectives. Research measurements were adapted, based on the scale provided by Zhang et al. (2021). There were 355 nurses from medical facilities in the North and Central regions participating in the support of South Vietnam against the COVID-19 epidemic, who completed the online survey. Results: The reported stress rate was 51.5%, with the most common nursing stressors being homesickness (84.2%) and discomfort caused by protective equipment (83.9%). The most commonly reported coping methods by nurses were taking preventive measures (98.6%), adjusting their attitude and facing the COVID-19 epidemic positively (96.6), actively learning about COVID-19 (94.6%), and chatting with families and friends (91%). The coping strategies considered the most effective included; encouragement from family, relatives and colleagues, being fully equipped with knowledge and skills to participate in epidemic prevention and control and timely provision of personal protective equipment. Conclusion: The nurses experienced significant stress, and the most frequently reported stressors were family related. Hence, social support interventions should be organized to improve the mental health of frontline nurses during the COVID-19 pandemic.