Feelings, Stress, and Coping of Nurses Amidst COVID-19 Outbreak in Saudi Arabia

Abstract

Background: A year after the COVID-19 pandemic spread around the world, the pandemic is still affecting healthcare systems with an increasing number of infected healthcare workers. Such a unique situation may often result in emotional turmoil, anxiety, depression, and fear, which could lead to resignation and burnout. The study intended to assess the feelings of nurses toward the COVID-19 outbreak; ascertain the factors that cause stress; and determine their coping strategies and factors contributing to coping.
Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional design was utilized to recruit 313 nurses working in the Ministry of Health (Saudi Arabia) hospitals that accommodate COVID-19 patients. The study instrument was adapted and modified from the ”MERS-CoV Staff Questionnaire” and the Brief COPE.
Results: The results showed that female, married, those with a bachelor’s degree, and aged 25–34 years had higher significant coping strategies. On the other hand, Filipino nurses assigned in the Outpatient Department and COVID-19 Isolation Ward had more negative feelings and encountered several factors causing stress but were coping in a better way than others.
Conclusion: Nurses’ commitment to their profession appears to be an intrinsic motivation to continue caring for COVID-19 patients  despite the risk of infection. Comfort with religion, spiritual beliefs, and the presence of a support system were the coping strategies used by nurses to ameliorate the stress and negative feelings during the COVID-19 outbreak.

Keywords: COVID-19, Saudi Arabia, nurses, feelings, factors causing stress, coping strategies