Job demands and job resources for job satisfaction and quality health outcomes among nurses during COVID-19

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has created unprecedented challenges for the Indian health-care system. Nurses, being vital partners of health care, experience tremendous challenges and job stress to deliver quality health care with limited resources. Drastic surge in health-care demands during COVID-19 pandemic amplified the challenges for nurses, yet it remains a neglected area of concern. Job resources like working conditions, team support, and job demands like workload, stress, and ethical dilemmas greatly affect the job satisfaction and health outcomes in nurses. The study aims to identify the job demands and resources among nurses in connection to COVID 19. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A quantitative cross-sectional design was adopted to assess the impact of job demands and resources among registered nurses ( N = 102). Those in the age group of 21–58 years and working in regular and COVID-19 patient care were included. Semi-structured interview schedule was used, and psychological impact was assessed through DASS-21 scale. Data analysis was done by descriptive and analytical statistical applications using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) 20. The level of significance was P ≤ 0.05. RESULTS: The study findings revealed that 66.67% of the nurses frequently experienced work pressure, 72.55%experienced frequent moral distress, and 80.4%were dissatisfied due to being non-participatory inpatient care decision making. Of all, 67.3% agreed that they hadjob dissatisfaction and 79.4% felt conflicting work climate. CONCLUSION: Nurses, being key players in the health care, experience constant challenges in the delivery of safe and quality patient care. Addressing the challenges of job stress and promoting job resources can positively impact their job satisfaction, perceived autonomy, job morale, and commitment, which directly influence positive health outcomes.

Factors Related to Nurses’ Professional Autonomy When Caring for Patients with COVID-19 in a University Hospital: A Cross-Sectional Study

“…Te correct response rates regarding the peak viral shedding and the incubation period of COVID-19 items (nos. [16][17] were lower than those of the standard precaution items of infection prevention and control (nos. 2-5), which were common infection control protocols and not specifc for COVID-19.…”

“…Te COVID-19 pandemic had a signifcant impact on nurses, with an increase in psychological distress and a decrease in job satisfaction [7,17]. Nurses experienced signifcant stress and moral distress due to unfavorable job demands [17].…”

“…Te COVID-19 pandemic had a signifcant impact on nurses, with an increase in psychological distress and a decrease in job satisfaction [7,17]. Nurses experienced signifcant stress and moral distress due to unfavorable job demands [17]. Common reasons for moral distress include a lack of decision-making autonomy, insufcient workplace respect, and inadequate psychosocial support mechanisms to help nurses cope with ethical dilemmas in both intensive care units [18] and general units [17,[19][20][21].…”

“…Nurses experienced signifcant stress and moral distress due to unfavorable job demands [17]. Common reasons for moral distress include a lack of decision-making autonomy, insufcient workplace respect, and inadequate psychosocial support mechanisms to help nurses cope with ethical dilemmas in both intensive care units [18] and general units [17,[19][20][21]. One study indicated that nurses' psychological stress during the COVID-19 pandemic could be related to their lower autonomy and competence [7].…”