Abstract
Background: The Covid –19 pandemic is a new experience with a substantial impact on the health and well-being of nurses caring for the patients diagnosed with the disease. Increased work and family demands have not been studied in these frontline workers. COVID-19 has altered many US nurses’ career plans. Over the past two years, the researchers have spoken with nurses who consistently, and increasingly, report planning to leave the workforce. This study looks at the impact of COVID-19 on the professional and personal lives of nurses.
Purpose: To understand the effects of COVID-19 a global pandemic on nurses caring for patients with the disease.
Methodology: A descriptive study design using a survey method was used. Qualtrics a known survey tool was used to complete a 20-minute survey which described experience of nurses (n=229) caring for patients with COVID 19. Participants came from a national database of state nurses’ associations.
Results: Of the participants the majority were baccalaureate prepared and affiliated with urban academic centers. 56 % did not have additional training related to caring for patients with COVID-19. The majority of the participants were from the northeast United States which was ground zero early in the pandemic. 76% were fully vaccinated. 45% never had COVID and 55% had COVID in one or more wave. Stress, anxiety, and depression were reported as mental health side effects related to the pandemic. Isolation was reported as a major factor. Nurses reported burnout, worry and fear and mistrust.
Conclusions: Although high vaccination rates were reported nurses were exposed to COVID-19. Nurses reported an impact on their lives and mental health as a result of the pandemic and lack of preparedness and education to handle the pandemic. Nurses reported a desire to leave the profession.
Implications: This study shows the need for education, preparedness plans for future pandemics. Support systems should be in place to care for the emotional, physical and mental health needs of nurses on the frontlines during a public health crisis.
Notes
References:
Bohm, R. Meier, N.W. , GroB, M. Korn, L. & Betsch, C. (2019). The willingness to vaccinate increase when vaccination protects others wo have low responsibility for not being vaccinate. Journal of Behavioral Medicine 42, 381-381
Deem M. J. (2018). Nurses' Voices Matter in Decisions About Dismissing Vaccine-Refusing Families. The American journal of nursing, 118(8), 11. https://doi.org/10.1097/01.NAJ.0000544142.09253.e0
George, G., Nota, P. B., Strauss, M., Lansdell, E., Peters, R., Brysiewicz, P., Nadesan-Reddy, N., & Wassenaar, D. (2023). Understanding COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy among Healthcare Workers in South Africa. Vaccines, 11(2), 414. https://doi.org/10.3390/vaccines11020414
Kearns A. J. (2021). Should nurses take a COVID-19 vaccine?. Nursing outlook, 69(6), 1081–1089. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.outlook.2021.07.011
Manning, M. L., Gerolamo, A. M., Marino, M. A., Hanson-Zalot, M. E., & Pogorzelska-Maziarz, M. (2021). COVID-19 vaccination readiness among nurse faculty and student nurses. Nursing outlook, 69(4), 565–573. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.outlook.2021.01.019
Morris, J.L., Baniak, L.M., Luyster, F.S., & Dunbar-Jacob, J. (2021). Covid-19 vaccine confidence and hesitancy in nursing students and faculty at a large academic medical center. Nursing Outlook, 70, 347 - 354.
Robinson, K.R., Gierach, M., Bartelt, S., ; Wolles,, B, McClellan, C. , Hodge, J. , & Lovro,, J. (2023) Battle of Covid-19 : Frontline nurses feel abandoned during pandemic. Amercial Nurse Journal, ,18(3)., 12-16.
Sigma Membership
Gamma Nu
Type
Presentation
Format Type
Text-based Document
Study Design/Type
Descriptive/Correlational
Research Approach
Other
Keywords:
Stress and Coping, COVID-19, Health and Well-being, Frontline Workers
Recommended Citation
Roberts, Mary Ellen; Knestrick, Joyce M.; and Resick, Lenore, "The lmpact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Registered Nurses" (2025). International Nursing Research Congress (INRC). 116.
https://www.sigmarepository.org/inrc/2025/presentations_2025/116
Conference Name
36th International Nursing Research Congress
Conference Host
Sigma Theta Tau International
Conference Location
Seattle, Washington, USA
Conference Year
2025
Rights Holder
All rights reserved by the author(s) and/or publisher(s) listed in this item record unless relinquished in whole or part by a rights notation or a Creative Commons License present in this item record.
Review Type
Abstract Review Only: Reviewed by Event Host
Acquisition
Proxy-submission
The lmpact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Registered Nurses
Seattle, Washington, USA
Background: The Covid –19 pandemic is a new experience with a substantial impact on the health and well-being of nurses caring for the patients diagnosed with the disease. Increased work and family demands have not been studied in these frontline workers. COVID-19 has altered many US nurses’ career plans. Over the past two years, the researchers have spoken with nurses who consistently, and increasingly, report planning to leave the workforce. This study looks at the impact of COVID-19 on the professional and personal lives of nurses.
Purpose: To understand the effects of COVID-19 a global pandemic on nurses caring for patients with the disease.
Methodology: A descriptive study design using a survey method was used. Qualtrics a known survey tool was used to complete a 20-minute survey which described experience of nurses (n=229) caring for patients with COVID 19. Participants came from a national database of state nurses’ associations.
Results: Of the participants the majority were baccalaureate prepared and affiliated with urban academic centers. 56 % did not have additional training related to caring for patients with COVID-19. The majority of the participants were from the northeast United States which was ground zero early in the pandemic. 76% were fully vaccinated. 45% never had COVID and 55% had COVID in one or more wave. Stress, anxiety, and depression were reported as mental health side effects related to the pandemic. Isolation was reported as a major factor. Nurses reported burnout, worry and fear and mistrust.
Conclusions: Although high vaccination rates were reported nurses were exposed to COVID-19. Nurses reported an impact on their lives and mental health as a result of the pandemic and lack of preparedness and education to handle the pandemic. Nurses reported a desire to leave the profession.
Implications: This study shows the need for education, preparedness plans for future pandemics. Support systems should be in place to care for the emotional, physical and mental health needs of nurses on the frontlines during a public health crisis.
Description
This session will examine the impact of COVID 19 on nurses health and well-being. This national descriptive study examined the effects on nurses and recommendations for what is needed to support nurses.