Abstract
Introduction: Working during the COVID-19 pandemic is a particular challenge for nurses because, while performing their daily routines, they are exposed to physical and social consequences of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, which is accompanied by intensified stress. The aim of this study was to assess the intensity of stress and coping strategies applied by nurses working with both infected and non-infected patients with SARS-CoV-2 virus during the COVID-19 pandemic. Materials and Methods: The study was conducted between January and March 2021. Due to the epidemiological situation, the questionnaire was posted on Facebook in nurses’ groups and sent out via the “Messenger” and “WhatsApp” applications. Stress intensity was assessed by means of the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10), whereas coping strategies were assessed using the Mini-COPE stress coping inventory. Results: Among 151 surveyed nurses, more than half (52.3%) worked with infected patients and the remaining ones (47.7%) worked with non-infected patients. The level of stress perceived by nurses working with infected patients was higher than among nurses working with patients without SARS-CoV-2 infection (22.22 ± 5.94 vs. 20.21 ± 5.68, p = 0.03). The nurses working with infected patients were most likely to choose coping strategies focused on the problem (2.00 ± 0.62) and emotions (2.01 ± 0.69), whereas those working with non-infected patients usually chose strategies focused only on the problem (2.11 ± 0.58). Conclusions: During the COVID-19 pandemic, nurses working with SARS-CoV-2 patients experienced more intense stress than those working with non-infected patients. Nurses working with SARS-CoV-2 patients tended to cope with stress using strategies focused on the problem and on emotions, while those working with non-infected patients were more likely to choose strategies focused only on the problem.
Highlights
The COVID-19 pandemic has been a global challenge for healthcare workers, among whom nurses, undeniably, constitute the biggest professional group
The average age of nurses working with patients infected with SARS-CoV-2 virus was significantly lower than the average age of nurses working with non-infected patients
The nurses who worked with patients infected with the SARS-CoV-2 virus were twice as likely to have only a short work experience (≤5 years) in comparison to those working with the uninfected patients (44.3% vs. 22.2%), while a greater percentage of nurses working with patients infected with the SARS-CoV-2 virus worked from 160 to 200 h a month when compared to those who worked with uninfected patients (68.4% vs. 45.8%, p = 0.01)—Table 1
Summary
The COVID-19 pandemic has been a global challenge for healthcare workers, among whom nurses, undeniably, constitute the biggest professional group. It is difficult for nurses to find themselves in this new reality, taking into account the speed with which the disease is spreading, an insufficient time to prepare for a record number of seriously ill patients, the high mortality rate, everyday work in personal protective equipment, unpredictability of events, loss of control, sense of helplessness, and the fear accompanying everyday work routines. These are just some of the reasons why nurses’ work is extremely vulnerable to stress and its effects during the COVID-19 pandemic [2,3,4,5,6].
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