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Workplace Cognitive Failure among Nurses during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Author

Listed:
  • Judith E. 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)

  • Sukhesh Sudan

    (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)

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.

Suggested Citation

  • Judith E. Arnetz & Eamonn Arble & Sukhesh Sudan & Bengt B. Arnetz, 2021. "Workplace Cognitive Failure among Nurses during the COVID-19 Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(19), pages 1-15, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:19:p:10394-:d:648939
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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. 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.
    3. Jalal Alharbi & Debra Jackson & Kim Usher, 2020. "The potential for COVID‐19 to contribute to compassion fatigue in critical care nurses," Journal of Clinical Nursing, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 29(15-16), pages 2762-2764, August.
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    Cited by:

    1. Martina Capuzzo & Gian Luca Viganò & Cinzia Boniotti & Lucia Maria Ignoti & Claudia Duri & Veronica Cimolin, 2022. "Impact of the First Phase of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Acquisition of Goods and Services in the Italian Health System," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(4), pages 1-17, February.
    2. Eamonn Arble & Dana Manning & Bengt B. Arnetz & Judith E. Arnetz, 2023. "Increased Substance Use among Nurses during the COVID-19 Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(3), pages 1-13, February.
    3. Iwona Malinowska-Lipień & Magdalena Suder & Tadeusz Wadas & Teresa Gabryś & Maria Kózka & Agnieszka Gniadek & Tomasz Brzostek, 2021. "The Correlation between Nurses’ COVID-19 Infections and Their Emotional State and Work Conditions during the SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(23), pages 1-13, December.

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