A scoping review of COVID-19-related stress coping resources among nurses

OBJECTIVE: The entire mental health hazard among the nurses dealing with COVID-19 is just the tip of the iceberg. The goal of this study was to find acceptable and adaptive coping techniques for nurses in order to keep the healthcare system resilient during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. METHOD: The scoping review search took place from January 2020 to May 2021 published articles, and the results were saved in Endnote software. For data synthesis and review, the Joanna Briggs Institute manual and PRISMA-ScR principles were followed. Following backward and forward screening to exclude redundant, irrelevant, and ineligible studies, 13 studies (3,613 nurses) were finally selected for this review. RESULTS: The majorities of participants in these studies were female and had children, and worked in departments of critical care, emergency, and fever clinics. Safety concerns for family or colleagues, as well as a lack of safe working environment, were the primary causes of the mental illness. Professional responsibility attitude, COVID-19 training, workplace safety, team spirit, and a few relaxation activities such as deep breathing, reading books, watching movies, and praying, on the other hand, were found to be beneficial for stress coping among nurses. CONCLUSION: Mentally fit nurses are more capable and flexible in the face of any life-threatening outbreak, even if it is very contagious. Several coping strategies were found to be effective for nurses during the COVID-19 pandemic, whereas problem-specific intervention trials might yield even better results. We should not delay specific mental health interventions to keep them viable and more efficient during a pandemic battlefield, whereas Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and suicide rates can destroy the entire health care system.