Psychological Impact of Covid-19 Pandemic on the Performance of Nursing Staff of Mid Atlantic Wellness Institute, Bermuda

Abstract

The novel Coronavirus or Covid-19 infection is one of the infectious diseases that has covered the world like a storm and sent the scientific communities scrambling for a cure with the World Health Organization (WHO, 2020) declaring it as a Pandemic on March 11th, 2020. Nurses as frontline workers become overwhelmed with the large number of cases thereby affecting their physical, social, and psychological wellbeing. For this reason, this study will explore the psychological impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the performance of nursing staff at the Mid Atlantic Wellness Institute, Bermuda. The study explored a qualitative research method utilizing purposive sampling technique adopted under the auspices of Husserl’s phenomenological philosophical theoretical framework. Twelve participants recruited for the study were Registered Nursing Staff at the Mid Atlantic Wellness Institute, Bermuda. One on one interview used as a method of data collection using interview guide. The data was analyzed using Colaizzi’s descriptive phenomenological method. Ethical approval obtained from the Institutional Review Board (IRB) of Bermuda Hospital Board. Three themes emerge: mental/psychological response to Covid 19, Psychological effect of Covid-19, and Impact of Covid 19 on staff performance. Covid 19 pandemic has affected the performance of Registered Nursing Staff of MAWI in Bermuda. Therefore, to forestall further effects, there is need for the MAWI Bermuda to provide adequate mental and psychological support to Registered Nurses affected by Covid 19 Pandemic. Keywords: Covid-19 pandemic, Mid Atlantic Wellness Institute- Bermuda, Nursing staff, psychological impact, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).