Concerns, Perceived Impact, and Preparedness During COVID-19: The Nurses' Perception.

Abstract

Background: Given the recency of the COVID-19 pandemic, few studies focus on the challenges frontline healthcare providers (HCPs) face in Saudi Arabia. There aren't many studies that specifically address the difficulties Saudi Arabia's frontline nurses confront due to the COVID-19 pandemic's recent onset.

Objective: This study was conducted to assess the concerns, perceived impact, and preparedness of nurses during COVID-19.

Method: Five hundred and thirty-four nurses participated in this cross-sectional and descriptively planned research on nurses in a tertiary healthcare setting in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The study was conducted between July and October 2020, during the second wave of the virus outbreak. Participants in this study were nurses working in the acute healthcare setting. These nurses spoke English well. A 38-item anonymous self-structured survey that was previously utilized in research was adopted.

Results: On concerns over working and nonworking conditions, the responses confirm the findings of similar studies globally. Most respondents were concerned about their susceptibility to COVID-19 infection and reported feeling more stressed at work. The majority of nurses (96.88%) confirmed the presence of an infection control committee in their hospitals, emphasizing the importance of a strong organizational structure. Among the findings are the respondents' strong sense of confidence regarding their own readiness and the readiness of their organizations. A significant association was observed between nurse's assessments of the effect of COVID-19 on their professional and personal life, as classified by age and job title.

Conclusion: Despite their and the institution's readiness, most nurses who replied to the survey questionnaire expressed work and nonwork-related worries. To effectively manage the effects of COVID-19, operational planning and execution in healthcare institutions must consider psychosocial counseling, epidemiological education, and environmental control training for HCPs.