Nurses' Passion for Work: Its' Relation to Organizational Dehumanization, Exploitative Leadership, and Deviant Behaviors during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract

Background: As the number of COVID-19 cases heightened in 2020, health systems had significant difficulties in staffing and providing the necessary care. Nurses particularly bore a disproportionate amount of physical and psychological burden. Aim: This study intended to explore the correlation between nurses' passion for work, organizational dehumanization, exploitative leadership, and deviant work behaviors at Port Said isolation hospitals during the COVID-19 pandemic. Subjects and Method: A descriptive correlational research design was employed. The study subjects encompassed a convenient sample of 108 nurses who were working at Port Said isolation hospitals namely; Al Hayah, Al-Zohor, Al-Mubarrah, and Tropical (Fevers) and liver diseases. The participants were requested to fulfill four instruments which were; the Passion Scale, Organizational Dehumanization Scale, Exploitative Leadership Scale, and Deviant Work Behaviors Scale. Results: The highest percentage of nurses had a passion for their work, slightly more than half of them experienced their hospitals as dehumanized organizations, and almost one-quarter of their managers had an exploitative leadership style. Besides, almost all of their managers demonstrated deviant work behaviors. Conclusion: There were statistically significant negative correlations between passion for work and organizational dehumanization, exploitative leadership style, and deviant work behaviors, Moreover, deviant work behaviors and organizational dehumanization are statistically significant predictors of nurses' passion for work. Recommendations: Healthcare officials should take the lead in providing mental health support for staff nurses comprising psychological counseling to lessen the stressors caused by the catastrophic pandemic catastrophe to prevent the physical and psychological exhaustion. As well, healthcare organizations have a duty to guarantee that nurses feel less dehumanized and supported by diminishing workload and growing their perceived job security.