Introduction
Workers in the healthcare industry, especially nurses, are among the first responders during a pandemic because of their responsibility to care for patients. They carry out their duties despite the increased danger to themselves, including increased risk of infection and psychological discomfort, exhaustion, and trauma. Employees, employers, and society all benefit from a focus on workplace wellness because of the profound effect that work has on people’s health (Llop-Gironés et al., 2021). Nursing staff and management should employ a continuous improvement strategy to ensure the health, safety, and welfare of all employees and the long-term viability of the organization. Nurses have an ethical obligation to treat each patient with respect and dignity, regardless of the severity of the pandemic.
Effects
Nurses and other medical workers who responded to the COVID-19 pandemic had a significant problem due to a shortage of personnel. Healthcare organizations also face difficulties as a result. In addition to physical exhaustion, concerns about spreading COVID-19 to loved ones also contributed to nurses’ emotional distress. Nightmares, chest pain, and increased feelings of frustration and fear are some of the stress and burnout symptoms that manifested. Workplace anxiety, stress, and burnout are more prevalent among those who spend a disproportionate number of their shifts directly caring for COVID-19 patients (Santos et al., 2021). The lack of COVID-19 diagnostics and protective equipment, as well as the complexities of treating people with the virus, can all be sources of anxiety. Patients who test positive for COVID-19 or are being evaluated for the illness require special precautions throughout their treatment; thus, nurses establish clustered or grouped care activities to conserve personal protective equipment (PPE) and decrease the risk of infection.
Changing the Situation
The nurse manager is in a good position to act on nurses’ ideas and take them further if necessary. A nurse might propose lowering healthcare workers’ stress levels by, for example, reducing patient loads, ensuring staff are well-versed in COVID-19 management standards, providing appropriate isolation wards, and stocking up on PPE. During a pandemic, a great deal of data and orders must be disseminated, and communication should be given top priority (Travers et al., 2020). Although being close to loved ones is necessary for healthcare personnel dealing with COVID-19, temporary separation from one’s family is necessary to ensure everyone’s safety. More nurses are required to ensure that each nurse has enough time to spend with every patient and enhance the quality of care they provide. Health facilities and organizations would create a healthy and sustainable workplace by hiring more people and allocating their time more effectively.
Implementing Change
Better openness and transparency from the organization regarding what was unfolding in the various wards helped nurses feel more in charge. Feelings of emotional and time pressures were lessened by having supportive coworkers. Resilience and stress minimization were aided by the public’s expressions of support and gratitude shared via texts and social media communication (Lee et al., 2021). An improvement in work-related exhaustion, sleep, and health problems was observed after employees were given more time off and enhanced balance in other elements of their employment.
Conclusion
Due to their duty to care for patients, healthcare workers, particularly nurses, are among the first responders during a pandemic. Regardless of the severity of the pandemic, nurses have a moral obligation to treat each patient with compassion and dignity. Medical responders to the COVID-19 pandemic faced a serious challenge due to a severe lack of available nurses and other medical personnel. Nurses’ emotional distress was exacerbated not only by their physical exhaustion but also by their fears of infecting their own families with COVID-19. The importance of effective communication cannot be overstated amid a pandemic when there is a great deal of information and orders to disseminate. More nurses are needed to ensure that every nurse has sufficient time to devote to each patient and improve their quality of care.
References
Lee, J., Cho, H. S., & Shin, S. R. (2021). Nursing strategies for the post‐COVID‐19 era. International Nursing Review, 68(2), 149-152. Web.
Llop-Gironés, A., Vračar, A., Llop-Gironés, G., Benach, J., Angeli-Silva, L., Jaimez, L., Thapa, P., Bhatta, R., Mahindrakar, S., Scavo, S., Nar Devi, S., & Julià, M. (2021). Employment and working conditions of nurses: Where and how health inequalities have increased during the COVID-19 pandemic? Human Resources for Health, 19(1), 1-11. Web.
Santos, J. L. G. D., Balsanelli, A. P., Freitas, E. D. O., Menegon, F. H. A., Carneiro, I. A., Lazzari, D. D., Menezes, D., Erdmann, A., & Camponogara, S. (2021). Work environment of hospital nurses during the COVID‐19 pandemic in Brazil. International Nursing Review, 68(2), 228-237. Web.
Travers, J. L., Schroeder, K., Norful, A. A., & Aliyu, S. (2020). The influence of empowered work environments on the psychological experiences of nursing assistants during COVID-19: A qualitative study. BMC Nursing, 19(1), 1-12. Web.