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A groundbreaking study has provided a comprehensive look at the significant mental health burden faced by nurses worldwide in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic. Published in the International Nursing Review, the research underscores the profound impact of three years of intense working conditions, loss, and workplace violence on nursing professionals.
“Our study describes how nurses are affected by stressors in their workplace and shows how the stress carries over into their home life. The personal losses from the pandemic complicate this picture as there could easily be lingering grief in a third of the workforce,” said Allison Squires, a professor at NYU Rory Meyers College of Nursing and the study’s lead author.
A Global Perspective on Nurse Burnout
While stress and burnout among nurses during the pandemic are well-documented in high-income countries, less is known about their experiences in other regions. To bridge this gap, Squires established the Global Consortium of Nursing and Midwifery Studies, an international collaboration comprising health professionals from 82 countries, dedicated to studying the long-term effects of the pandemic on the nursing workforce.
Between July 2022 and October 2023, researchers surveyed 9,387 nurses from 35 countries, assessing their mental health, experiences of loss, burnout, workplace aggression, access to mental health services, and self-care practices.
The findings revealed widespread mental health challenges, with rates of anxiety and depression among nurses ranging from 23% to 61%. Workplace-related stress was notably higher than stress experienced at home, with 57% of nurses reporting persistent fatigue, 44% experiencing anxiety, and 41% feeling overwhelmed.
Regional Variations in Mental Health Impact
The study noted substantial differences in mental health outcomes across countries, possibly due to cultural perceptions of psychological distress and stigma around mental illness. For instance, workplace-related anxiety was reported by 69.9% of nurses in Brazil but only 23.8% in Indonesia. Similarly, 80.9% of nurses in Turkey reported feeling overwhelmed at work, compared to just 6.7% in Thailand.
Personal Loss and Public Aggression
Beyond workplace stress, the emotional toll of personal losses during the pandemic was significant. According to the study:
- 20% of nurses lost a family member to COVID-19,
- 35% lost a friend,
- 34% lost a coworker.
Additionally, nearly half (48%) of surveyed nurses reported experiencing violence and aggression from the public, an issue that remains a critical health worker safety concern.
Inadequate Mental Health Support
Despite the overwhelming psychological toll, only 24% of nurses said their employers provided sufficient mental health services. Many relied on self-care strategies such as exercise, spirituality, and support from family and friends to manage stress.
“The increased engagement in self-care practices suggests that nurses, given the intensity of the pandemic’s working conditions, may have turned to these activities to cope with adverse mental health symptoms experienced at work,” Squires explained. “However, promoting self-care will not address the scope of the problems we’ve identified; we need to develop targeted and accessible mental health support in order to foster a resilient nursing workforce.”
Call for Action: Policy Changes Needed
The researchers urge policymakers and healthcare institutions to expand mental health services for nurses and improve workplace conditions to ensure their psychological well-being.
“Given our findings, it is not surprising that we see nurses moving within the nursing workforce to lower-stress roles, leaving their positions or countries for better working conditions, or leaving the profession altogether,” said Squires. “This poses a threat to health system sustainability worldwide, and the impact is likely to affect the most vulnerable systems that were already stretched and stressed to their limits prior to the pandemic.”
Pamela Cipriano, president of the International Council of Nurses (ICN), echoed these concerns, emphasizing the urgent need for governments to invest in nursing.
“We need governments to invest in nursing and improve working conditions and salaries in order to retain the nurses they have and attract more to the profession. ICN has published evidence to show that investing in nurses saves money, strengthens economies, and saves lives,” she said.
Disclaimer:
This article is based on the study A Descriptive Analysis of Nurses’ Self-Reported Mental Health Symptoms During the COVID-19 Pandemic: An International Study, published in International Nursing Review. The information provided reflects research findings and expert opinions and should not be interpreted as medical or psychological advice. For individual mental health concerns, readers are encouraged to seek professional support.
