Nurse Resiliency and Health in Practicing Nurses Before and During COVID-19

Area of Science:

• Nursing Research
• Public Health
• Psychology

Background:

• Work-related stress in nursing can lead to burnout, impacting resilience and well-being.
• Prolonged stress, such as during the COVID-19 pandemic, significantly affects nurse resilience and well-being.
• Existing literature highlights the decrease in nurse resilience and well-being during periods of chronic stress.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare resilience and self-perceived physical and mental health in nurses before and during the COVID-19 pandemic.
• To assess the impact of prolonged pandemic-related stress on nurse well-being and resilience.
• To identify subgroups of nurses most affected by pandemic-related stress.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional study design was replicated, comparing a prepandemic survey with a 2020 survey during the COVID-19 pandemic.
• The Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale and PROMIS Global Health were used to measure resilience, physical health, and mental health.
• Independent 2-sample t tests and comparison analyses were performed to evaluate score differences and associated characteristics.

Main Results:

• More nurses reported excessive overtime, job dissatisfaction, and overwhelming workloads during the pandemic compared to before.
• Overall resilience, physical, and mental health scores were significantly lower during the pandemic.
• These declines were particularly pronounced in specific subgroups of nurses based on their characteristics.

Conclusions:

• Self-perceived physical and mental health are linked to resilience and worsened during the COVID-19 pandemic, especially in younger and older nurses.
• Nurse leaders must implement interventions to enhance resilience and well-being during both usual and prolonged stress.
• Addressing the impact of prolonged stress on nurses is crucial for maintaining healthcare system stability and quality of care.