Psychological Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Nurses Delivering Care in Hospitals

Abstract

Background: Nurses have faced significant challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic, with one major issue being the increased mental health concerns. These could impact the quality of healthcare provided by nurses, along with patient care and safety, as a result of multiple factors, including heavy workloads and long hours. Numerous other factors affecting nurses can influence these outcomes. Therefore, it is crucial to provide accessible resources to help nurses reduce their mental health problems and improve their overall psychological well-being. Such resources would be able to offer effective strategies to support nurses as they care for patients during these challenging times. Aim: To review and synthesize published research about the impact of COVID-19 on the psychological well-being of nurses and identify effective strategies that can assist nurses with mitigating mental health issues during the pandemic. Methodology: This study will provide a narrative review of the evidence. The researchers conducted an extensive review of the literature by utilizing various online biomedical databases, including PubMed, MEDLINE, CINAHL, and Scopus. Result: After limiting the search dates to December 2019 –2023, the literature search identified a total of 132 articles. The primary focus of the study is the COVID- 19 period, which led to the exclusion of studies published before December 2019 from consideration. Critical Appraisal and Skills Programme (CASP) tools were utilized to evaluate the credibility and quality of the articles, leading to the inclusion of 19 articles that were considered appropriate for this review. Conclusion: This review identified the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on nurses' mental health, particularly due to certain factors such as increased workloads and fear of infection, which significantly affect their well-being. Ensuring nurses' mental health is vital for maintaining high-quality patient care. Offering efficient support and accessible resources can mitigate stress levels and enhance resilience. Given the long-term consequences of the pandemic on healthcare systems, continuous support and monitoring for nurses' mental well-being are essential. Strengthening nurses' capacity to provide patient care can be achieved through a culture that promotes well-being and provides sustained support.