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. 2021 Apr:58:151410.
doi: 10.1016/j.apnr.2021.151410. Epub 2021 Feb 11.

Risk assessment and management among frontline nurses in the context of the COVID-19 virus in the northern region of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Hamdan Mohammad Albaqawi  1 , Eddieson Pasay-An  2 , Romeo Mostoles Jr  1 , Sandro Villareal  1
Affiliations

Risk assessment and management among frontline nurses in the context of the COVID-19 virus in the northern region of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Hamdan Mohammad Albaqawi et al. Appl Nurs Res. 2021 Apr.

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to assess the post-contact risk of nurses who provide care for patients diagnosed with COVID-19.

Methods: This investigation employed a quantitative-descriptive design. The study sample was comprised of the frontline nurses in the COVID-19 center hospitals in the northern part of Saudi Arabia. Snowball sampling was used, resulting in 80 frontline nurses. A survey using a self-administered questionnaire in a Google form was employed to collect the data, which was collected from May 20 through June 25, 2020.

Results: Some of the study participants were reported to have a history of both staying in the same household with each other (35%) and of traveling with a confirmed COVID-19 patient (20%). These participants were considered as community exposed to COVID-19. There were 8.8% who were classified as high risk due to failure in removing and replacing personal protective equipment (PPE); 6.3% were at high risk for not performing hand hygiene before and after touching COVID-19 patients, and 5% did not follow the recommended guidelines in performing hand hygiene after touching the patients' surroundings. In addition, 3.8% of the participants had an accident related to biological material, such as with splashes of biological fluid (in the eyes). These nurses were classified as high risk for COVID-19 virus infection, CONCLUSION: This study identifies practices that need improvement in combatting this virus. Since policies and guidelines may not always be optimal in all settings, a tailor-fitted guideline is appropriate. Nurse leaders, for example, need to establish an infection control system that provides real-time monitoring and facilitates immediate correction for nurses. Doing so will provide the nurses with a continuous awareness of predisposing themselves to acquiring the virus.

Keywords: COVID-19; Management; Nurses; Risk assessment.

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Conflict of interest statement

The researchers declare no conflict of interest.

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