The causative factors of psychological distress and mental ill-health among ICU nurses during the pandemic

Amna Alsalim; Rebecca Rylance-Graham

doi:10.12968/bjon.2023.32.21.1026

The causative factors of psychological distress and mental ill-health among ICU nurses during the pandemic

Br J Nurs. 2023 Nov 23;32(21):1026-1030. doi: 10.12968/bjon.2023.32.21.1026.

Authors

Amna Alsalim¹, Rebecca Rylance-Graham²

Affiliations

¹ MSc Nursing Student, School of Health Sciences, University of Liverpool, at the time of writing this article.
² Associate Head, School of Health Sciences, University of Liverpool.

PMID: 38006594
DOI: 10.12968/bjon.2023.32.21.1026

Abstract

The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic had a global impact on health systems and health professionals. Nurses, particularly those working in intensive care units (ICUs), held a central critical role in the care of COVID-19 patients, facing numerous challenges in the delivery of care, leading to significant psychological and mental health issues. This article reports on findings from a qualitative narrative review of the literature related to psychological ill-being and mental health of ICU nurses' during the pandemic. Four key themes emerged: (1) isolation (2) workload (3) clinical preparedness and lack of protocols and (4) fear.

Keywords: COVID-19 pandemic; ICU nurses; Mental health; Nursing practice; Psychological distress.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

COVID-19* / epidemiology
Humans
Intensive Care Units
Mental Health
Nurses*
Pandemics
Psychological Distress*