Effects of Covid-19 on Mental Health Among Nurses at Parirenyatwa Group of Hospital

Abstract

Health care nurses have carried out heavy burden during the COVID-19 pandemic, in the challenge to control the deadly virus. They faced many direct consequences, thereby supporting their psychological wellbeing continues to be of paramount importance. This study was carried out to identify the effects COVID-19 had among nurses working at Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals. A review of literature was carried out information searched from several data bases , namely, PubMed, Domnican convent university .Published studies from journals that reported the psychological effects of COVID-19 on mental health among nurses was used. The study carried out on 52 nurses working in the COVID-19 red zone unit , revealed that nurses experienced mental challenges of depression, burnout sleep disorders , post -traumatic stress disorder and obsessive compulsive disorders. Results also revealed that nurses used many copying strategies to cope during the COVID-19 pandemic namely, prayer, resting during shifts, keeping contact with relatives and friends. Mitigating strategies were also employed by nursing management to help nurses cope in the pandemic, for example giving them a COVID-19 allowance, counselling sessions and reduction in number of working hours. The evidence of data collected revealed that nurses were at more risk of facing mental challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic. More priority need to be given when it comes to their mental health during pandemics. Nurses working in other department out of the COVID-19 red zone unit should also have mental health studies carried out on them, least they produce results similar or worst when it comes to their mental health.