Psychological impact of caring during the COVID-19 pandemic on HIV nurses

The COVID-19 pandemic has created a set of unprecedented challenges for healthcare services and staff. The authors conducted a national online survey of nurses employed to work in HIV services in England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland to establish how the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted on the professional quality of life of HIV nurses. Professional quality of life was assessed using the ProQOL scale; 132 nurses completed the survey, 99 of whom completed the ProQOL scale. Just over 1 in 3 were redeployed in the first pandemic wave, dropping to 1 in 6 in subsequent waves. In multivariate analysis, redeployment in both waves increased burnout scores by nearly 10 points and decreased compassion satisfaction scores by nearly 5 points, with no effect on secondary traumatic stress scores. A supportive workplace environment will have a key role in supporting the path to recovery.

How Do We Enhance Oncology Nurses’ Caring Utilizing Resilience And Professional Quality of Life?: A cross-Sectional Descriptive Study

Background: Degree of caring behavior in oncology nurses is a crucial factor in caring for patients with cancer. It is important to understand factors related to oncology nurses' caring including their own resilience and professional quality of life. The purpose of this study was to investigate oncology nurses’ resilience, professional quality of life, and caring.Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive correlational study was conducted on 107 oncology nurses using self-report questionnaires. Data analysis included descriptive statistics, Pearson's correlations, and stepwise multiple regression to examine factors affecting oncology nurses’ degree of caring behavior, using SPSS/WIN 20.0 program (IBM).Result: Oncology nurses presented a low level of resilience and degree of caring behavior, a high level of compassion satisfaction, burnout, and secondary traumatic stress. There was a statistically significant relationship between degree of caring behavior, resilience (r = .43, p < .001), compassion satisfaction (r =.51, p < .001), and burnout (r = -.42, p < .001) as well as between secondary traumatic stress and burnout (r = .34, p < .001). Factors affecting oncology nurses’ degree of caring behavior were compassion satisfaction and education level. Conclusions: This study demonstrated that oncology nurses’ degree of caring behavior relates to professional quality of life, and education. This association suggests several implications for nursing practice to encourage holistic nursing. It will be necessary to study the factors affecting nurses' compassion satisfaction, and to try to promote compassion satisfaction according to the study.

Noise Exposure and Quality of Life Among Nurses

Background: The purpose of this study was to describe the relationship between noise exposure, selected health conditions, and well-being among nurses. Methods: A secondary analysis was performed on data obtained from 3,818 U.S. nurses who responded to a survey regarding noise exposure, health conditions, stress, professional quality of life, and workplace support. Findings: Those who reported high noise exposure reported more health conditions, higher stress and burnout scores, and lower supportive environments. High noise exposure was significantly associated with lower professional quality of life. Conclusion/Application to Practice: Noise may impact the health and quality of professional life of nurses. Occupational health nurses should advocate for the regular monitoring of nurses’ exposure to hazardous noise at work, compare it to OSHA permissible levels, and collaborate with the occupational health team to ensure safe noise levels are maintained. Occupational health nurses should advocate for expanded research on effects of noise on health.

Impact of COVID-19 on Mental Health of Palliative Care Professionals and Services: A Mixed-Methods Survey Study

Introduction This study aimed to examine the mental health of palliative care professionals in Hong Kong during the COVID-19 pandemic, the relationship of mental health with socio-demographic factors, and the impact of the pandemic on palliative care services. Methods A total of 142 palliative care professionals in Hong Kong participated in an online survey. The questionnaire includes measurements on depression, anxiety, perceived stress, post-traumatic stress, professional quality of life, items that measure the effect of COVID-19 on palliative care services, and one open-ended question for describing how the services were affected. Descriptive and multivariate regression analyses were conducted. Quantitative and qualitative data about the impact of COVID-19 on palliative care services were analyzed and triangulated using a mixed-methods approach. Results Up to 82%, 43%, and 42% of the participants felt moderately to highly stressed, anxious, and depressed, respectively, during the pandemic. Younger participants tended to have poorer mental health and professional quality of life. Around 82% felt stressed when communicating with patients and family members under the no-visiting policy during the pandemic. More than three-quarters of participants showed lack of confidence in the anti-epidemic policy of the government. Qualitative findings identified 3 themes affecting the provision of palliative care: 1. the tightening of restrictions on visitors; 2. the limited provision of services; and 3. staff deployment. Conclusions Appropriate responses are required to give extra support to palliative care professionals during the pandemic and facilitate their coping with the impact of COVID-19 on the provision of palliative care.