Soočanje zdravstvenih delavcev s stresnimi situacijami v času pandemije SARS-CoV-2

Verbovšek, Ana (author), Simonič, Barbara (mentor)

Pandemija SARS-CoV-2 je zdravstvenim delavcem in zdravstvenemu sistemu predstavljala enega izmed največjih izzivov do sedaj. Medicinske sestre so se soočale z različnimi stresnimi situacijami in obremenitvami na delovnem mestu, kar jim je povzročalo višjo stopnjo stresa in posledično višjo možnost izgorelosti. Ljudje se na stres odzivamo na različne načine, na kar vpliva posameznikova osebnost, starost, izkušnje, vrednote, prepričanja in okoliščine, v katerih se stresna situacija pojavi. Stres je pogosteje prisoten, če ima posameznik občutek, da ima s strani vodstva premalo podpore. V magistrskem delu smo raziskovali, kako so zdravstveni delavci doživljali stresne situacije, ki so nastale v času pandemije SARS-CoV-2, in na kakšne načine so se z njimi soočali. Raziskava temelji na fenomenološkem pristopu, saj smo preučevali njihova doživljanja. Izvedli smo šest polstrukturiranih intervjujev z diplomiranimi medicinskimi sestrami, ki so neposredno skrbele za paciente, okužene s covid-19, in jih obdelali po načelih fenomenološke metode. Rezultati raziskave so pokazali obširne posledice dela v prvi bojni liniji, ki so vidne še danes. Udeležencem je bilo delo med pandemijo stresno in naporno, ob tem pa so se soočali še s strahom za svoje življenje in življenje svojih najbližjih. Največjo obremenitev jim je predstavljala uporaba osebne varovalne opreme, pomanjkanje ustrezno izobraženega kadra in izmensko ter nadurno delo. Posledično so zdravstveni delavci čutili spremembe tako na psihičnem zdravju kot tudi na telesnem. Pogosteje so čutili strah, tesnobo, spremljal jih je tudi občutek žalosti. Pri sebi so opazili spremembe v življenjskem slogu, spremenjene prehranske navade in željo po menjavi delovnega mesta. Vse to ima posledice na področju zagotavljanja kakovosti in varnosti pri delu, saj omenjeni težki delovni pogoji vplivajo na kakovost in varnost dela v zdravstvenih ustanovah. Pri soočanju s stresnimi situacijami in obremenitvami so si najpogosteje pomagali s pogovorom s prijatelji, družinskimi člani ali sodelavci, s katerimi so lahko delili podobne izkušnje. Vodstvo ustanov, v katerih so zaposleni, ni nikomur od udeležencev naše raziskave nudilo psihološke pomoči, kar bi si v prihodnje želeli. Iz rezultatov raziskave razberemo, da je zaposlenim v zdravstvenih ustanovah potrebno zagotoviti primerne delovne pogoje, ustrezno število zaposlenih, ustrezen počitek in urnik dela. Mnogo več bi bilo potrebno storiti za promocijo in dostopnost psihološke pomoči. Ustrezna psihološka pomoč bi omogočila lažje soočanje s stresnimi situacijami in obremenitvami medicinskih sester ter zmanjšala negativne posledice teh.

• Language: Slovenian
• Keywords: medicinska sestra, covid-19, stresne situacije, načini spoprijemanja s stresom, fenomenološka metoda
• Work type: Master's thesis/paper
• Organization: TEOF - Theological Faculty
• Year: 2024
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-158486
• Publication date in RUL: 14.06.2024

Secondary language

• Language: English
• Title: Coping of healthcare workers with stressful situations during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic

Abstract

The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has been one of the biggest challenges to healthcare workers and the health system. Nurses faced various stressful situations and workloads, which caused them a higher amount of stress and higher risk of burnout. People respond to stress differently, depending on the person's personality, age, experiences, values, beliefs and circumstances in which the stressful situation occurs. Stress is more likely to occur when an individual feels that they have insufficient support from management. In the master's thesis, we investigated how health care workers experienced stressful situations that arose during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic and how they coped with them. The research is based on a phenomenological approach, as we studied their experiences. We conducted six semi-structured interviews with registered nurses who directly cared for patients infected with covid-19. The results of this thesis revealed the wide-range of consequences which are still affecting nurses to this day. Working during the pandemic was not only stressful and exhausting, but also resulted in fear for both their lives and the lives of their loved ones. The biggest burden was the use of personal protective equipment, lack of properly trained staff and overtime work. As a result, healthcare workers felt changes in their mental and physical health. They felt fear, anxiety and sadness more often. They also noticed changes in their lifestyle, eating habits and a desire to change jobs. All this has consequences in the area of quality assurance and safety at work, as these demanding working conditions affect the quality and safety of work in health institutions. When dealing with stressful situations and burdens, they often helped themselves by talking to friends, family members or co-workers with whom they could share similar experiences. The management of the institutions where they are employed did not provide any of the participants in our study with the psychological help, which they would like to have in the future. From the results of this research, it is necessary to ensure appropriate working conditions, adequate number of employees, suitable rest and appropriate working hours for employees in health care institutions. Much more needs to be done to promote and make psychological help available. Adequate psychological support would make it easier to cope with stressful situations and responsibilities of nurses and reduce their negative consequences.

• Keywords: : nurse, covid-19, stressful situations, ways of coping with stress, phenomenological method