NURSES' PERCEPTION OF OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY DURING THE COVID 19 PANDEMIC

Öz

Aim: This study aims to determine nurses' perceptions of occupational safety during the COVID-19 pandemic. Method: This study was conducted based on cross-sectional research principles. The sample of the study includes 160 nurses working in three public hospitals in Sakarya province. The research data were collected through a questionnaire consisting of four parts about nurses' personal characteristics, working conditions, occupational diseases/complaints and occupational accidents/injuries, and occupational safety measures taken during the pandemic period. Results: In the study, more than half of the participants (66.4%) had COVID-19 disease, (71.3%) did not find the personal protective equipment of sufficient quality, (68.8%) the working environment was not adequately ventilated, (67.5%) stated that orientation training was not given to nurses assigned from different fields. The mean score for “occupational diseases and complaints” of participants was 29.4±16.2, and the mean score for “support given to employees” by the institution during the pandemic was 4.1±2.5. Nurses who worked continuously during the day shift did not have an accident at work, did not have COVID-19, studied occupational safety during the pandemic, and did not plan to leave jobs were found to have a significantly higher level of occupational safety measures than other nurses (p<0.05). Conclusions and Recommendations: It was detected that more than half of the nurses were considering leaving their jobs during the pandemic, the majority of them were not satisfied with the “employee health and safety policies” and found the “occupational safety measures” taken to be partially sufficient. Nurses face extraordinary challenges when responding to unique, uncertain, and ever-changing situations around the world. Appropriate and effective strategies must be identified and implemented to protect nurses. Regulations to improve nurses' working conditions can reduce health risks and help strengthen healthcare response during a pandemic.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Nurse
• Occupational health
• Occupational safety
• Pandemic

Covid-19 Pandemisi Sürecinde Hemşirelerin İş Güvenliği Algısı

Öz

Amaç: Bu çalışmanın amacı hemşirelerin COVID-19 pandemisi sürecinde iş güvenliğine ilişkin görüşlerinin belirlenmesidir. Yöntem: Bu çalışma, kesitsel araştırma ilkelerine dayalı olarak yapılmıştır. Araştırmanın örneklemini Sakarya ilinde bulunan üç devlet hastanesinde çalışan 160 hemşire oluşturmaktadır. Araştırma verileri, hemşirelerin kişisel özellikleri, çalışma koşulları, meslek hastalıkları/şikayetleri ve iş kazaları/yaralanmaları ve pandemi döneminde alınan iş güvenliği önlemleri ile ilgili dört bölümden oluşan anket aracılığıyla toplanmıştır. Bulgular: Araştırmada hemşirelerin yarısından fazlası (%66.4) COVID-19 hastalığı geçirmiş olduğunu, (%71.3) kişisel koruyucu ekipmanları yeterli kalitede bulmadığını, (%68.8) çalışma ortamının uygun ve yeterli düzeyde havalandırılmadığını, (%67.5) farklı alanlardan görevlendirilen hemşirelere oryantasyon eğitimlerinin yapılmadığını belirtti. Katılımcıların “meslek hastalık ve şikayet” puan ortalaması 29.4±16.2, kurum tarafından pandemi süresince “çalışanlara verilen destek” puan ortalaması 4.1±2.5 puan olarak belirlendi. Sürekli gündüz çalışan, iş kazası geçirmeyen, COVID-19 geçirmeyen, pandemi sürecinde iş güvenliği eğitimi alan, işten ayrılmayı düşünmeyen hemşirelerin iş güvenliği önlemlerini yeterli bulma durumu diğer hemşirelere göre anlamlı düzeyde yüksek bulundu (p<0.05). Sonuç ve Öneriler: Hemşirelerin yarısından fazlasının pandemi döneminde işten ayrılmayı düşündüğü, çoğunluğunun çalışan sağlığı ve güvenliği politikalarından memnun olmadığı ve alınan iş güvenliği önlemlerini kısmen yeterli bulduğu tespit edildi. Hemşireler dünya çapında sürekli olarak değişen durumlara yanıt verirken olağanüstü zorluklarla karşılaşmaktadır. Hemşireleri korumak için uygun ve etkili stratejiler belirlenmeli ve uygulanmalıdır. Hemşirelerin çalışma koşullarını iyileştirmeye yönelik düzenlemeler sağlık risklerini azaltabilir ve bir pandemi sırasında sağlık hizmetlerinin müdahalesini güçlendirmeye yardımcı olabilir.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Hemşire
• İş sağlığı
• İş güvenliği
• Pandemi

Kaynakça

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