Measurement of Occupational Fatigue/exhaustion Recovery in Nurses Caring for COVID-19 Patients

The shadow of the coronavirus phenomenon over the nursing profession is considered as a serious threat to the health of nurses and the quality of nursing care for coronavirus patients. This study intended to measure the occupational fatigue/exhaustion recovery of nurses caring for COVID-19 patients in hospitals affiliated with Mashhad University of Medical Sciences.

This descriptive-analytical cross-sectional study of 203 nurses caring for coronavirus patients was conducted in 2021 using the census method. Data were collected using a 15-item Occupational Fatigue/Exhaustion Recovery (OFER-15) scale, and were analyzed by SPSS statistical software version 22 using independent t-test, one-way analysis of variance, and Tukey’s post hoc tests. The significance level was set at α = 0.05.

The majority of the nurses were female (51.2%), married (81.3%), and bachelor’s degree holders (86.2%). The mean occupational exhaustion score of the nurses studied was 60.20±6.13, indicating a high level. Likewise, the average score for chronic fatigue was 22.89±5.87, representing a high level. In contrast, the mean scores for acute fatigue and inter-shift recovery were 18.36±2.76 and 18.95±2.41, respectively, suggesting a moderate level. Nurses in the special coronavirus ward had a significantly higher mean score of acute fatigue than those in the general coronavirus ward (p=0.02).

Since the mean occupational exhaustion score among nurses caring for coronavirus patients was high in this study, it is recommended that managers modify the conditions and variables that contribute to fatigue, implement the necessary controls to reduce fatigue, and formulate a strategy to boost the productivity of nurses and the satisfaction of COVID-19 patients.