Conditioning of nurses' work in infectious diseases wards in association with the COVID-19 pandemic

Sierpińska Lidia, Kopeć Justyna. Conditioning of nurses’ work in infectious diseases wards in association with the COVID-19 pandemic. Journal of Education, Health and Sport. 2021;11(12):350-358. eISSN 2391-8306. DOI http://dx.doi.org/10.12775/JEHS.2021.11.12.029

https://apcz.umk.pl/JEHS/article/view/JEHS.2021.11.12.029

https://zenodo.org/record/5812882

The journal has had 40 points in Ministry of Education and Science of Poland parametric evaluation. Annex to the announcement of the Minister of Education and Science of December 1, 2021. No. 32343.

Has a Journal's Unique Identifier: 201159. Scientific disciplines assigned: Physical Culture Sciences (Field of Medical sciences and health sciences); Health Sciences (Field of Medical Sciences and Health Sciences).

Punkty Ministerialne z 2019 - aktualny rok 40 punktów. Załącznik do komunikatu Ministra Edukacji i Nauki z dnia 1 grudnia 2021 r. Lp. 32343. Posiada Unikatowy Identyfikator Czasopisma: 201159.

Przypisane dyscypliny naukowe:Nauki o kulturze fizycznej (Dziedzina nauk medycznych i nauk o zdrowiu); Nauki o zdrowiu (Dziedzina nauk medycznych i nauk o zdrowiu).

© The Authors 2021;

This article is published with open access at Licensee Open Journal Systems of Nicolaus Copernicus University in Torun, Poland

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Received: 05.12.2021. Revised: 23.12.2021. Accepted: 31.12.2021.

Conditioning of nurses’ work in infectious diseases wards in association with the COVID-19 pandemic

Lidia Sierpińska¹, Justyna Kopeć²

¹Military Clinical Hospital No. 1 with Polyclinic, Independent Public Health Unit, Lublin

²Students’ Scientific Circle, University of Economics and Innovation, Lublin

Abstract

Introduction

Infectious diseases, due to their specificity and rapid spread, require a special, individual approach, not only to the treatment, but also to the protection of medical staff against infection.

Objective: The aim of the study is recognition of the conditioning of work of nurses in hospitals dedicated to COVID-19, at the time of pandemic.

Materials and Method

The study included 100 nursing staff - 78 females (78%) and 22 males (22%) employed in Polish hospitals dedicated to care of patients with COVID-19 by virtue of the Minister of Health [5]. The research material was collected during the period from 15 January   2021 - do 12 February 2021. The largest group in the study was aged under 30 (32%), and similarly those aged 31 - 40 (31%). The respondents aged 41 - 50 constituted 21% of the nursing staff examined. The smallest group of nurses was aged over 60 (16%). The largest number of the nursing staff lived in urban areas (78%), whereas the reminder in rural areas  (22%).

The study was conducted by the method of a diagnostic survey, using a questionnaire technique, while the research tool was an author-constructed questionnaire designed for the purpose of the presented study. The questionnaires were sent to hospitals dedicated to COVID-19 in various localities in Poland, with a request for obtaining consent from decision-makers in these facilities. Considering the pandemic, in none of these facilities a consent was expressed to send the documents by post in a paper form. Therefore, the documents were sent by e-mail, and received also in this form. The questionnaire was also posted on a website and the link was provided on the Internet nursing forums.

Conclusions

1. In dedicated hospitals it is necessary to optimize the equipment in the ward indispensable for care of patients with COVID-19, which would improve the working conditions of nurses.
2. It is advisable to adjust the employment of nurses to the demand for nursing care of patients seriously ill with COVID-19, treated in dedicated hospitals.  
3. In infectious diseases hospitals, in-hospital training courses should be intensified concerning the OSH and sanitary-hygienic principles in care of patients with COVID-19, because ¼ of the examined nurses indicated such a need.
4. In dedicated hospitals the nursing staff should be provided with more personal protection equipment, and trainings should be intensified concerning the principles of using the above-mentioned means while taking care of patients with COVID-19.
5. Nurses in dedicated hospitals experienced chronic stress due to the great psychological load during care of patients with COVID-19, which indirectly exerted a negative effect on the effectiveness of their work.

Key words: nurses’ work; infectious diseases; COVID-19; pandemic