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Nurse Reports of Stressful Situations during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Qualitative Analysis of Survey Responses

Author

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  • Judith E. Arnetz

    (Department of Family Medicine, College of Human Medicine, Michigan State University, Grand Rapids, MI 49503, USA)

  • Courtney M. Goetz

    (Department of Family Medicine, College of Human Medicine, Michigan State University, Grand Rapids, MI 49503, USA)

  • Bengt B. Arnetz

    (Department of Family Medicine, College of Human Medicine, Michigan State University, Grand Rapids, MI 49503, USA)

  • Eamonn Arble

    (Department of Psychology, Eastern Michigan University, Ypsilanti, MI 48197, USA)

Abstract

The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has exposed nurses to conditions that threaten their health, well-being, and ability to work. It is therefore critical to study nurses’ experiences and well-being during the current crisis in order to identify risk groups for ill health and potential sources of organizational intervention. The aim of this study was to explore perceptions of the most salient sources of stress in the early stages of the coronavirus pandemic in a sample of U.S. nurses. A cross-sectional online survey was conducted among a sample of 695 U.S. nurses in May 2020. Content analysis was conducted on nurses’ responses (n = 455) to an open-ended question on the most stressful situations they had experienced during the pandemic. Six distinct themes emerged from the analysis: exposure/infection-self; illness/death-others; workplace; personal protective equipment/supplies; unknowns; opinions/politics. Two sub-themes concerned restrictions associated with the pandemic and feelings of inadequacy/helplessness regarding patients and their treatment. More than half of all comments concerned stress related to problems in workplace response to the pandemic. Healthcare institutions should provide opportunities for nurses to discuss the stress they are experiencing, support one another, and make suggestions for workplace adaptations during this pandemic.

Suggested Citation

  • Judith E. Arnetz & Courtney M. Goetz & Bengt B. Arnetz & Eamonn Arble, 2020. "Nurse Reports of Stressful Situations during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Qualitative Analysis of Survey Responses," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(21), pages 1-12, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:17:y:2020:i:21:p:8126-:d:439564
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Debra Jackson & Caroline Bradbury‐Jones & Diana Baptiste & Leslie Gelling & Karen Morin & Stephen Neville & Graeme D. Smith, 2020. "Life in the pandemic: Some reflections on nursing in the context of COVID‐19," Journal of Clinical Nursing, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 29(13-14), pages 2041-2043, July.
    2. Jill Maben 1,2,3,✉ & Jackie Bridges, 2020. "Covid‐19: Supporting nurses' psychological and mental health," Journal of Clinical Nursing, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 29(15-16), pages 2742-2750, August.
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    Cited by:

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    13. Young-Mi Jung & Na-Young Kim, 2022. "Factors Affecting Preventive Health Behaviors against COVID-19 in Nursing Students: A Cross-Sectional Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(9), pages 1-13, May.
    14. Noluyolo Fathuse & Khumbulani W. Hlongwana & Themba G. Ginindza, 2023. "“Why Am I Even Here If I Can’t Save the Patients?”: The Frontline Healthcare Workers’ Experience of Burnout during COVID-19 Pandemic in Mthatha, South Africa," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(8), pages 1-16, April.
    15. Karen Willis & Paulina Ezer & Sophie Lewis & Marie Bismark & Natasha Smallwood, 2021. "“Covid Just Amplified the Cracks of the System”: Working as a Frontline Health Worker during the COVID-19 Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(19), pages 1-15, September.
    16. Amalia De Leo & Eloisa Cianci & Paolo Mastore & Caterina Gozzoli, 2021. "Protective and Risk Factors of Italian Healthcare Professionals during the COVID-19 Pandemic Outbreak: A Qualitative Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(2), pages 1-17, January.
    17. Miguel Den R. Sade & Ave V. Eragan & Dr. Mary Rachelle R. Wapaño, 2022. "The Mental Health of Medical Frontliners during the COVID 19 Pandemic," International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science, International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS), vol. 6(7), pages 827-836, July.
    18. Bom-Mi Park & Jiyeon Jung, 2021. "Effects of the Resilience of Nurses in Long-Term Care Hospitals during on Job Stress COVID-19 Pandemic: Mediating Effects of Nursing Professionalism," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(19), pages 1-12, September.

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