Journal of Community & Public Health Nursing
Open Access

Abstract

Purpose: Health care professionals, particularly nurses, are considered a vulnerable group to experience acute stress disorder (ASD) and subsequent psychological distress amid COVID-19 pandemic. This study aims to establish the prevalence of acute stress disorder and predictors of psychological distress among Jordanian nurses. Methods: A quantitative, cross-sectional, descriptive and comparative design was used. Data were collected using a Web-based survey. A total of 448 Jordanian nurses (73% females) completed and returned the study questionnaire. Results: The majority of nurses (64%) are experiencing ASD due to the COVID-19 pandemic and thus are at risk for PTSD predisposition. More than one-third of nurses (41%) are also suffering significant psychological distress. Among our sample, age, ASD and coping self-efficacy significantly predicted psychological distress. More specifically, younger nurses are more prone to experience psychological distress than older ones. While higher scores on ASD showed more resultant psychological distress, coping self-efficacy was a protective factor. Conclusion: Such findings warrant intensive efforts from health care institutions to provide psychosocial support services for nurses and ongoing efforts to screen them for traumatic and psychological distress symptoms. Implications: Nursing leaders and managers need to implement stress-reduction strategies for nurses through providing consecutive rest days, rotating allocations of complex patients, arranging support services and being accessible to staff. They also need to ensure nurses' personal safety through securing and providing personal safety measures and undertake briefings to ensure their staff's physical and mental well-being, as well as providing referrals to appropriate psychological services. Keywords: acute stress disorder, coping, COVID-19, nurses, psychological distress

Biography

Ghada Shahrour is an assistant professor at the Faculty of Nursing in Jordan University of Science and Technology (JUST). She is specialized in the field of Psychiatric/Mental Health Nursing. She has completed her PhD and master degree from Kent State University, USA. Currently, she is the Head of the Department of Community and Mental Health Nursing of JUST. She is also one of the founders and an administrative member of Psychological Sciences Association in Jordan. She has published several research studies in reputable international journals.