Impact of COVID-19 on ICU nurses’ psychology and influencing factors under COVID-19’s normalization, prevention and control: A cross-sectional survey

Background: The first-line ICU nurses still play an important role in the nursing of patients diagnosed by designated hospitals during the normalization prevention and control of COVID-19. Discussing the mental health status of the first-line ICU nurses will help to provide more accurate measures to improve the mental status of the first-line ICU nurses and improve the quality of nursing. Aims: To explore the impact and possible influencing factors of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) on the psychology of ICU nurses under the normalization, prevention and control. Design: A cross-sectional survey. Method: We chose 40 ICU nurses working in designated hospitals for novel coronavirus pneumonia in October to December of 2021. A post-traumatic stress disorder survey scale and questionnaire were used to investigate the situation and stressors of first-line ICU nurses. Results: The average score on post-traumatic stress disorder of first-line ICU nurses was(21.68 + 6.76 ) points under the normalization of prevention and control of COVID-19. Two nurses scored 38 points and had significant clinical symptoms, making the incidence of post-traumatic stress disorder 5%. The main stressors included the discomfort of wearing protective equipment and the concern for relatives at home. Conclusions: This study shows COVID-19 has little effect on the mental health of front-line ICU nurses and exerts a lighter degree of pressure during the normalization of COVID-19. We can also further improve the psychological status of front-line ICU nurses by improving the quality of protective equipment, increasing ICU staff, obtaining the understanding and support of family members, hierarchical training, and the care and support of managers to further improve the quality of nursing.