Affiliations: [a]
Department of Nursing, Health Sciences Faculty, Bezmialem Vakif University, Istanbul, Turkey
| [b]
School of Nursing and Midwifery, National University of Ireland - Galway, Galway, Ireland
| [c] Florence Nightingale Faculty of Nursing, Istanbul University-Cerrahpasa, Istanbul, Turkey
Abstract: BACKGROUND:
The conditions in the workplace have a critical influence on the mental health of nurses and their attitudes toward their job, which may impact patient care. OBJECTIVE:
This cross-sectional study aimed to investigate the association between perceptions of the work environment and fear of COVID-19 experienced by nurses. METHODS:
The data were collected using a demographic data form, the Work Environment Scale (WES), and the Fear of COVID-19 Scale. The study was completed with 183 nurses who provide care to COVID-19 patients. RESULTS:
The mean scores for the WES and Fear of COVID-19 Scale were 63.59±12.35 and 21.98±8.36, respectively. There was a positive correlation between the points acquired from the “employee fears” section of the WES and the Fear of COVID-19 Scale mean ranks (r = 0.22). There was a weak negative correlation between the Fear of COVID-19 score and the WES “job satisfaction” score (r = –0.214). There was a weak negative correlation between the scores of the Fear of COVID-19 Scale and perceived support at work (r = –0.33) and between the WES scores and weekly working hours (r = –0.27). However, there was a weak to moderate positive correlation between the WES scores and number of days off per week (r = 0.45). CONCLUSIONS:
Nurses experience a high fear of COVID-19, and a decrease in their attitudes of the work environment was associated with an increased fear of COVID-19. The fear of COVID-19 may be reduced by various interventions to provide support at work and increase nurses’ job satisfaction.
