Challenges faced by nursing professionals working in hospitals in dealing With covid - 19 patients

Background: Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID‑19) pandemic, which has posed a major challenge to the health care systems across the world. Health care workers especially nurses are committed to serve the society and the biggest challenge they face today is to cure and care for the people affected with COVID‑19. Objectives: This study aimed to identify the challenges faced by Indian nursing professionals working in hospitals and dealing with COVID - 19 patients. Methods: A self-administered questionnaire containing demographic details and challenges faced by nursing professionals in dealing with COVID-19 patients was prepared using Google forms and distributed to nurses of India through social media. Total 100 nurses from different hospitals of India were participated. Data were coded and analyzed using descriptive statistics. Results: The mean age of the participants was 35.09 ± 4.83 years, 72% were females and 60% had diploma education. 76% participants from Government hospitals setting and 88% were resided in urban areas. Majority of the participants 58% were responded that they were extremely concerned for the availability of PPEs in hospital. Approximately 84% participants reported that they required training related to donning and doffing of PPEs, infection control practices and care of COVID -19 positive patients. Separate screening and admission facilities for COVID-19 positive nurses, transportation, food and accommodation were found major workflow related challenges in hospitals. Approximately 32% participants were well prepared to provide care to COVID -19 positive patients and 75% were stressed and frustrated due to the workload. Conclusions: This study concluded that the common challenges faced by nurses across the country are: shortage of personal protective equipments (PPEs), inadequate training to deal COVID -19 patients, lack of accommodations, food and transport facilities for nurses, and separate screening, quarantine and admission facilities for nurses in hospitals. Flexible, adjustable policy and protocols can be made by hospital administrators and nursing leaders to overcome these challenges faced by nurses. Nurses are determined to win this war and make significant contributions to the health care of the society.