Physical problems and fatigue level of nurses during the COVID-19 pandemic

This study was conducted to examine the physical problems and fatigue levels experienced by nurses during the COVID-19 pandemic.

A descriptive and correlational design was used. The study data were collected in a state and a university hospital in the center of this province between September and December 2020. The population of the study included 460 nurses in these two hospitals, and the sample consisted of 377 volunteer nurses, which represented 81.95% of the population. Data collection tools included a "Personal Information Form," a "Nurses' Physical Problems Questionnaire," and the "Chalder Fatigue Scale (CFS)".

The mean score of the nurses on the total CFS was 20.14 ± 6.72. The mean CFS score of nurses who worked in the university hospital compared to the score of those who worked in the state hospital and the score of those who experienced health problems during the COVID-19 pandemic compared to the score of those who did not was significantly higher (p < .05). Regarding the physical problems that the nurses experienced, the highest rate of "yes" responses was given to the question "Have you experienced sweating in PPE?" (94.2%), while the lowest rate of "yes" responses was given to the question "Have you experienced a risk of falling due to the shoe covers you wore on your feet?" (48.0%).

The CFS scores of the nurses who said "Yes" to all physical problems evaluated in this study were found to be significantly higher (p < .05). Nurses' work-related fatigue is recognized as a threat to nurse health and patient safety. By providing adequate staffing levels to frontline nurses in the COVID-19 pandemic, nurse managers can effectively reduce or prevent pandemic fatigue and improve their physical health.