Abstract

Healthcare became priority due to COVID-19 pandemic. The role of healthcare workers like nurses in serving COVID-19 patients is exuberant. They have direct contact with COVID-19 patients and must spend longer hours in and around the patients. The way nurses rendered services under extreme lockdown conditions is quite palpable. They do have lot of stress in discharging duties during the pandemic. This paper addresses the challenges and issues of nurses serving COVID-19 patients and provides measures to overcome stress during the pandemic. The study is empirical and descriptive in nature. Afraid of viral infection, longer shifts, heavy workload, inadequate PPE, social stigma, maintaining social distance with loved ones of family members, relatives, and friends, lack of appreciation and recognition from the doctors, helplessness towards colleagues, and lack of awareness of safety protocols among COVID-19 positive patients caused psychological stress among nurses. They have adapted a coping mechanism with belief in God.

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