THE IMPORTANCE OF PSYCHOHYGIENE IN A CARE FOR NURSES’ MENTAL HEALTH IN THE TIME OF PANDEMIC
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.32782/2077-6594.2.1.2022.258925Keywords:
COVID-19 pandemic, pandemic risk factors, the work of nurses, mental health of nurses, psychohygiene of nursesAbstract
The purpose: we want to emphasize the importance of care for nurses' mental health and the need for more frequent application of the principles of psychohygiene, which are essential for their mental health, especially in times of pandemic. Our experience in practice points to the development of mental stress in nurses and confirm the absence of effective workload management strategies.
Methods: using a questionnaire of our own design we determined a level of psychohygiene of nurses during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Results and discussion: in this article, we point out how nurses perceive the impact of a pandemic on their work, how they cope with stress and what relaxation techniques they use.
According to nurses, during a pandemic, increased workload and staff shortages are the most common causes of mental exhaustion, which is also associated with overall exhaustion and irritability. A significant number of respondents has experienced a loss of motivation, impaired sleep, headaches, feelings of anxiety and reduced concentration. Psychohygiene is essential in the work of nurses during a pandemic. Among nurses, the most known and used strategies to manage the mental strain are: sleep and rest, nature walks, positive work climate, physical activity and sports. The respondents also mentioned entertainment and relaxation, peer support and meditation as other ways of coping with psychological stress. Conclusion: the findings show that the use of effective psychohygiene strategies by nurses can reduce stress during the COVID-19 pandemic and prevent burnout.
References
Bartunkova, S. 2010. Mechanisms. 1st ed. Prague: Karl University in Prague, 2010. p. 137. ISBN 978-80-2446-1874-6.
Brodsky, S. 2020.There Are 7 Types of Rest, According to a Therapist – It's More Than Physical and Mental. 2020. https://www.popsugar.co.uk/fitness/seven-types-of-rest-therapist-explains 47941595?utm_medium=redirect&utm_campaign= US:SK&utm_source=www.google.com.
Durdiak, L. 2010. Psychohygiene – the way to mental health. [online]. [cited 2022-20-02]. p. 3-5. Available online: https://www.zzz.sk/clanok/9298-psychohygiena-cesta-k-dusevnemu-zdraviu.
Fernandez, R., Lord, H., Halcomb, E., Moxham, L., Middleton, R., Alananzeh, I., Ellwood, L. 2020. Implications for COVID-19: A systematic review of nurses’ experiences of working in acute care hospital settings during a respiratory pandemic. In International Journal of Nursing Studies, 111, 103637. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2020.103637.
Chen R, Sun C, Chen JJ, Jen HJ, Kang XL, Kao CC, et al.2021. A large-scale survey on trauma, burnout, and posttraumatic growth among nurses during the COVID-19 pandemic. Int J Ment Health Nurs. (2021) 30:102–16. doi: 10.1111/inm.12796.
Illnerova, H.2013. The doctrine of hours in us [online]. 2013, 16. 11. 2013. Available online: www.ceskatelevize.cz/ specialy/hydepark-civilizace/16.11.2013/.
Lee, M. 2019. Calming Your Nerves and Your Heart Through Meditation. (2019). Available online: https://sitn.hms.harvard.edu/flash/2009/issue61/ (accessed May 7, 2021).
Maben, J., Bridges, J. 2020. COVID-19: Supporting nurses’ psychological and mental health. In Journal of Clinical Nursing, 29, 2742– 2750. Available online: https://doi.org/10.1111/jocn.15307.
Mo, Y., Deng, L., Zhang, L., Lang, Q., Liao, C., Wang, N., & Huang, H. 2020. Work stress among Chinese nurses to support Wuhan for fighting against the COVID-19 epidemic. In Journal of Nursing Management, 28(5), 1002–1009. https://doi.org/10.1111/jonm.13014.
Pappa S, Ntella V, Giannakas T, Giannakoulis VG, Papoutsi E, Katsaounou P. 2020. Prevalence of depression, anxiety, and insomnia among healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic: a systematic review and meta-analysis. In Brain Behav Immun. (2020) 88:901–7. doi: 10.1016/j.bbi.2020.05.026.
Riedel, B., Horen, S. R., Reynolds, A., Hamidian Jahromi, A. (2021). Mental Health Disorders in Nurses During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Implications and Coping Strategies. Frontiers in public health, 9, 707358. Available online: https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2021.707358.
Shahrour, G., Dardas, L. A. 2020. Acute stress disorder, coping self-efficacy and subsequent psychological distress among nurses amid COVID-19. Journal of Nursing Management, 28(7), 1686– 1695. https://doi.org/10.1111/jonm.13124.
Sun, N., Shi, S., Jiao, D., Song, R., Wang, H. 2020. Qualitative study of the psychological experiences of caregivers of patients with covid-19. In American Journal of Infection Control, 48 (6), 592–598. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajic.2020.03.018.
Sehularo, L. A., Molato, B. J., Mokgaola, I. O., & Gause, G. 2021. Coping strategies used by nurses during the COVID-19 pandemic: A narrative literature review. Health SA = SA Gesondheid, 26, 1652. https://doi.org/10.4102/hsag.v26i0.1652.
Vavrova, P., 2013. Psychohygiene (not only) as a prevention of burnout syndrome in health care management: Relaxation. [online]. [cit. 2022-02-02]. p. 5-6. Available online: https://www.prolekare.cz/en/journals/occupational-medicine/2013-1-2/psychohygiene-not-only-as-prevention-of-the-burn-out-syndrome-in-medical-management-41198.
Venglarova, M., 2011. Nurses in need: burnout syndrome, mobbing, bossing. 1st ed. Prague: Grada, 2011. p. 192. ISBN 978-80-247-3174-2.
Yang, J. W. et al. 2020. Corticosteroid administration for vital pneumonia: COVID-19 and beyond. In National Library of Medicine. [online]. [cit. 2022-02-06]. p. 2-3. Available online: https://www.prolekare.cz/casopisy/pracovni-lekarstvi/2013-1-2/psychohygiena-nejen-jako-prevence-syndromu-vyhoreni-u-zdravotnickeho-managementu-41198.
Zhou, WJ, Turale, S., Stone, TE, Petrini, MA. 2015. The experience of Chinese nurses with the help of two earthquakes: Implications for disaster education and policy development. In Education of nurses in practice, 15 (1), 75–81. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nepr.2014.06.011.
