Nurses' Journey in the Pandemic: Fear of COVID-19 and Work Stress

Purpose: During the pandemic, nurses have played an important role in the treatment and care of individuals with COVID-19. Fear of COVID-19 was added to the work stress experienced by nurses for various reasons before the pandemic. Revealing the processes that affect nurses' mental health during the pandemic is an important public health priority in terms of evaluating nurses' health and managing the effective delivery of nursing services. The aim of this study is to investigate the relationship between fear of COVID-19 and work stress in nurses working in hospitals. Material and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted between February and April 2022 with 270 volunteer nurses. Data were collected using a Socio-demographic Characteristics Form, the Fear of COVID-19 Scale, and the Nurse Stress Scale. Descriptive statistical methods (counts, percentages, min-max, mean, and standard deviation values) and Pearson correlation analysis were employed to analyze the data. Results: Participants' mean scores were 14.59±6.23 on the Fear of COVID-19 Scale and 62.46±11.44 on the Nurse Stress Scale. A statistically significant, positive, and low-level correlation was found between fear of COVID-19 and work stress (r=0.145, p<0.017). Conclusion: Nurses' fear of COVID-19 and work stress was below a moderate level. As their fear of COVID-19 increased, their work stress increased, as well. Measures to be taken to reduce nurses' fear of COVID-19 can contribute positively to the reduction of their work stress and therefore to their health.