Authors: Kailla Louise Portia M. Vios, Sheirweena D. Sheik, Johanesa F. Barisa, Aiman L. Esmael, Jeah Nicole E. Bunyi, and Tashmera D. Laranjo
Nursing Department, College of Arts and Sciences, Mindanao State University – Buug Campus, Buug, Zambonga Sibugay, Philippines
Email: tashmera.laranjo@msubuug.edu.ph
ABSTRACT
COVID-19 is a newly emerged infectious disease and because of its rapid spread throughout most countries across the globe, World Health Organization (WHO) declared the disease as a pandemic on March 11, 2020. The pandemic has been causing threats not just among people and among health care workers, specifically among nurses. This study used a descriptive-quantitative research method aimed to measure the level of stress and fear among nurses who attends covid affected patients in the province of Zamboanga Sibugay. It was conducted to randomly selected hospitals of Zamboanga Sibugay namely: Malangas Emergency Hospital, Lanceta Medical Hospital, Ipil Doctors Hospital and Zamboanga Sibugay Provincial Hospital. Questionnaires were sent to the respondents who gave their consent to participate in the study. Nurses had displayed moderate level of stress and fear and researchers were able to identify factors that might have influenced the nurses experience of stress and fear, namely marital status and attendance to formal orientation and training about COVID 19 infection. 36% of the respondents agreed that their level of stress and fear might affect their performance towards quality patient care and safety. The results of the study clearly demonstrate that the nurses in Zamboanga Sibugay Province are experiencing moderate level of stress and fear. Therefore, organizations, managers and health administrators should take measures in establishing structured policies and actions to control stress in the hospital staff.
Keywords: COVID-19, registered nurses, stress and fear, patient care