Self-care and Standard Precaution Observance in Intensive Care Nurses during COVID 19

Self-care behaviors and standard precautions are important for maintaining nurses' health. This research aimed to evaluate the relationship between nurses’ self-care and standard precaution observance in intensive care unit during COVID-19.

This descriptive-analytical research was conducted on the ICU nurses at Mashhad University of Medical Sciences. A total of 140 nurses were included in the research through convenience sampling. The data were collected using demographic survey questions, Self-Care Inventory-Revised (SCI-R), and Compliance with Standard Precautions Scale (CSPS).

The greatest self-care means among the participants was in the professional dimension (40.1±4.41), and the lowest means of self-care was in the psychological dimension (26.97±3.55). The highest and lowest score of standard precautions was 20 and 3, respectively. The average precaution observance was 13.99±2.931. There was a positive and significant correlation between self-care and observance of standard precautions of nurses (r=0.224; p=0.008).

Nurses in intensive care units in COVID-19 pandemic pay little attention to their self-care. Self-care in the professional dimension receives relative attention, and in the psychological dimension, receives the least attention. The standard precautions in COVID-19 pandemic is not at an acceptable level, and there is a direct and positive correlation between self-care and observing standard precautions.