Workplace Cognitive Failure among Nurses during the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Judith E Arnetz,Sukhesh Sudan,Eamonn Arble,Bengt B Arnetz

doi:10.3390/ijerph181910394

Abstract

Numerous studies provide evidence of the physical and emotional strain experienced by nurses during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, little is known regarding the impact of this occupational strain on nurses’ cognitive function at work. The aim of this study was to identify factors associated with workplace cognitive failure in a sample of U.S. nurses during the COVID-19 pandemic. An online questionnaire was administered in May 2020 to Michigan nurses statewide via three nursing organizations (n = 695 respondents). Path analysis was conducted to test the parallel effects of frequency of contact with COVID patients and personal protective equipment (PPE) supply on workplace cognitive failure scores. Mediation effects of stress, sleep quality, secondary trauma, and work-related exhaustion were examined for each exposure. Results revealed significant indirect effects of all mediators except sleep quality of contact with COVID patients (cumulative indirect effect = 1.30, z = 6.33, p < 0.001) and PPE (cumulative indirect effect = −2.10, z = −5.22, p < 0.001) on cognitive failure. However, 58% of the PPE effect was direct. To reduce the risk of cognitive failure, healthcare organizations need to provide nurses with protective equipment and work environments that allow nurses to strengthen their resilience to extreme working conditions.

Highlights

More than one and a half years after the onset of the corona virus disease (COVID-19)pandemic, there is ample evidence of the toll that caring for COVID patients has taken on nurses’ health [1,2]
Mental health problems were shown to be significantly higher among nurses who were not provided with adequate personal protective equipment (PPE) [10,12]
A comparison of nurses with missing and complete responses on the workplace cognitive failure scores (WCFS) revealed that non-respondents had significantly less contact with COVID patients (p < 0.001)

Summary

Introduction

Pandemic, there is ample evidence of the toll that caring for COVID patients has taken on nurses’ health [1,2]. Multiple studies have reported significant mental health symptoms among nurses involved in direct care of COVID patients around the globe, including. Mental health problems were shown to be significantly higher among nurses who were not provided with adequate personal protective equipment (PPE) [10,12]. The constant use of PPE during the current pandemic has been associated with impairments in communication and situational awareness, negatively affecting perception and cognition [13]. Nurses’ prolonged use of PPE has been associated with physical health problems, including headache [14], respiratory symptoms, and ocular, nasal, and skin problems [15]

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