Emergency nurses' attitudes, perceptions about personal protective equipment and willingness to care for COVID-19 patients: A descriptive, cross-sectional study

Abstract

Aims This study investigated emergency nurses' attitudes and perceptions about personal protective equipment and their association with the willingness to care for COVID-19 patients. Background Emergency nurses are at increased risk for COVID-19 infection as frontline workers and must wear personal protective equipment while attending suspected and confirmed COVID-19 patients. Methods In September 2021, 188 nurses in four emergency departments completed online questionnaires. Results Multivariable logistic regression demonstrated that as perceptions of COVID-19 infection risk increased by 1 point, 26% of nurses were willing to care of COVID-19 patients. The willingness to care for COVID-19 patients increased in their attitudes by 1.16 point and perceptions by 1.08 points about PPE. Conclusions Perceptions of the risk of infection exposure and confidence in safety of personal protective equipment are associated with nurses' willingness to care for COVID-19 patients. Implications for Nursing Management Nurse managers need to assess nurses' needs for safety and provide a supportive climate to mitigate their concerns regarding infection risk and encourage nurses' willingness to care for patients. Nurse managers should provide precise guidelines on correct personal protective equipment use. Repetitive training on personal protective equipment should be provided to encourage nurses' adaptation to its use.