Impacts of fighting against COVID-19 on critical care nurses’ psychological and physical health: a literature review

Abstract

Abstract Objective To provide insight into the effects of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic on the physical and psychological health of critical care nurses in adult units. Methods A systematic search through the CINAHL, MEDLINE, and EMbase databases were performed. Studies that addressed “critical care nurses,” “COVID-19,” “physical effect,” and “psychological effect” from different perspectives were reviewed. Results A total of 42 articles were reviewed based on 2 aspects: critical care nurses’ psychological and physical health. Negative emotions were the most common conditions: fear, anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Burnout, falling ill and having thoughts of self-harm, fatigue, physical burden, sleeping disorders, and chronic work overload also adversely affected the nurses’ health. The nurses’ health deteriorated because of the changes in the unfamiliar working environment and processes, colossal workload and chronic exhaustion, worries about themselves and their families, social response, and witnessing the death toll. Conclusions Critical care nurses experienced adverse effects of the institutional reaction, social response, and individuals’ reply to the COVID-19 pandemic upon their psychological and physical health. Supporting services and preparation for other unprecedented situations should be sustainably available.