Occupational Stressors and Coping Mechanisms Among Obstetrical Nursing Staff Throughout the COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract

Background: As a result of heightened occupational stress throughout the COVID-19 pandemic,nurses in hospitals are experiencing high rates of depression, anxiety, and burnout. However,nurses in obstetrical departments have had unique challenges and have experienced specificsources of stress that remain unclear.Methods: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with twenty obstetrical nurses that workedat an Ontario tertiary care centre during the COVID-19 pandemic. Participants shared theirexperiences of working during the pandemic, focusing on job stressors, personal resources, anddesires for job resources. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim and coded usingNVivo. Data was analyzed using a theoretical thematic approach based on the Job Demands-Resources (JD-R) model.Results: Key job stressors identified included having an increased workload, fear of COVID-19transmission, providing proper patient care, and overwhelming physical demands. Moreover,participants expressed they felt undervalued, inadequately supported, and burned-out during thepandemic. The most common personal resources used to cope with additional stress were relyingon family members, friends, and colleagues for support, in addition to utilizing personal hobbiesto decompress. Lastly, participants were able to provide suggestions on how to improve jobresources, focusing on improving mental and physical support, communication, and retention.Conclusion: This study provides an in-depth understanding of the COVID-19 workingconditions of Ontarian obstetrical nurses, while highlighting that they were provided withinadequate levels of job resources to manage increased job demands. Findings from this studycan help inform hospital management on how they can better support and meet the needs ofthose working in maternal care during major disease outbreaks. À la demande de l'auteur, le résumé a été retiré en raison de la nature confidentielle de la thèse. Il sera ajouté une fois la période d'embargo terminée.