Professional Self-Concept and Self-Confidence for Nurses Dealing with COVID-19 Patients

• Published in: Journal of personalized medicine Vol. 12; no. 2; p. 134
• Main Authors: Allobaney, Nabeel F, Eshah, Nidal F, Abujaber, Ahmad A, Nashwan, Abdulqadir J J
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland MDPI AG 20.01.2022; MDPI
• Subjects: Cardiopulmonary resuscitation; Confidence; Consent; Coronaviruses; COVID-19; CPR; Disease; Epidemics; Medical research; Mental health; Nurses; Nursing; Pandemics; Patient safety; Patients; Precision medicine; Professionals; Questionnaires; Self esteem; Training; Workloads; Qatar; COVID-19; self-concept; self-confidence; nurses; professional
• ISSN: 2075-4426; 2075-4426
• DOI: 10.3390/jpm12020134

To identify the impact of dealing with COVID-19 patients in clinical areas on nurses' professional self-concept and self-confidence. Professional self-concept is considered a critical factor in the recruitment/retention process in nursing, nursing shortage, career satisfaction, and academic achievements. Professional self-confidence is also a crucial determinant in staff satisfaction, reducing turnover, and increasing work engagement. Descriptive, comparative study. The study was conducted between February to May 2021 by utilizing a convenience sampling technique. A total of 170 nurses from two facilities were recruited from two COVID-19- and non-COVID-19-designated facilities. The level of professional self-concept and self-confidence was assessed by utilizing the Nurses' Self-Concept Instrument and Self-Confidence Scale. The professional self-concept level among the group exposed to COVID-19 patients was lower than the comparison group, while the professional self-confidence level among the exposed group to COVID-19 patients was similar to the comparison group. On the other hand, the satisfied staff and those who received professional training in dealing with COVID-19 patients reported a higher level of professional self-concept. Dealing with COVID-19 patients has an impact on professional self-concept; the exposure group was lower than those who did not deal with COVID-19 patients, while the professional self-confidence level among the exposed group was similar to the comparison group. Getting professional training in dealing with COVID-19 patients and being satisfied at work were significant factors in improving professional self-concept. Policymakers should create strategies that target the improvement of professional training in dealing with COVID-19 patients.