Mental health of Spanish nurses working during the COVID‐19 pandemic: A cross‐sectional study

Abstract

Aim: To explore the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the mental health of nurses working in primary, secondary, and tertiary healthcare centers in Navarre (Spain). Background: Healthcare workers, especially nurses, are at high risk for developing mental health problems during the COVID-19 pandemic. Introduction: Spain ranks among the European countries with the highest incidence of and mortality from COVID-19 and has a 31% deficit in the number of nurses compared with the average for the European Union. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study involving 800 Registered Nurses in Navarre, Spain. Four standardized instruments, along with a self-administered online questionnaire, were used to measure the impact in terms of depression, anxiety, insomnia, and posttraumatic stress disorder. The STROBE checklist for cross-sectional studies was used to report this study. Results: Of the 800 nurses, 68% had some level of depression, anxiety, insomnia, and distress, and of these, 38% had moderate or severe symptoms. Those who worked in hospital COVID units and in nursing homes showed a higher impact on their mental health. Discussion: The sustained pressure that nurses have experienced in their work during the COVID-19 pandemic has negatively affected their mental health. Conclusion:This study found that nurses who worked in hospital COVID units and in nursing homes during the pandemic had worse mental health outcomes. Implications for nursing/policy: Recommendations for nursing policy include the need to implement coaching and emotional programs to support nurses on the frontlines of the pandemic. There is also an urgent need for the implementation of national training programs to strengthen health emergency preparedness, improve response capacity, and increase the resilience of nurses to disasters.

“We must be strong in our heart, in our mind and in our soul”: An exploratory qualitative study on nurses’ psychological self-care in strengthening their mental health while providing COVID-19 care

“…Our study supported previous research and systematic reviews that physical activity is positively associated with reduced occurrence of depression/anxiety disorders and poor physical health outcomes [41][42][43][44]. Individuals who do regular physical activity were found to be less unhappy compared to those who did not exercise during COVID-19 [7,45].…”

“…Healthcare workers also shared that they are experiencing trouble with sleep (70%), physical exhaustion (68%) and work-related dread (63%) [6]. Likewise, a cross-sectional study using a self-administered online questionnaire involving 800 nurses in Spain found that 68% had some level of depression, anxiety, insomnia, and distress, and of these, 38% had moderate or severe symptoms that highly impacted those who worked in COVID-19 hospital units and in nursing homes [7]. Similarly, an American survey that investigated nurses' perceptions of working during the early stages of the pandemic found that more than 50% of respondents experienced symptoms of depression and anxiety and close to one-third had symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder [8].…”

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“…The symptoms included a high rate of anxiety, depression, insomnia [32]. Nurses felt as if they were overlooked and lacked support from organizations [33]. Those who worked in hospital COVID-19 units and nursing homes experienced a higher impact on their mental health [34].…”