“COPING MECHANISMS ON THE STRESS RELATED TO HEAVY

WORKLOAD AMIDST COVID-19 PANDEMIC AMONG NURSES OF BUTUAN

DOCTORS’ HOSPITAL, BUTUAN CITY” inverted triangle format

___________________________

A Research Proposal

Presented to the

Faculty of the Department of Nursing

Butuan Doctors’ College

___________________________

In Partial Fulfillment

of the Requirements for the Degree

Bachelor of Science in Nursing

_____________________________

by

Jesus B. Pelayo
Jerry C. Tomosa
John D. Bautista
Zumba T. Kabuntagon

2020

PLEASE OBSERVE 7 SPACES IN BETWEEN

 APPROVAL SHEET

This Research Proposal entitled “COPING MECHANISMS ON THE

STRESS RELATED TO HEAVY WORKLOAD AMIDST COVID-19 PANDEMIC
AMONG NURSES OF BUTUAN DOCTORS’ HOSPITAL, BUTUAN CITY”,
prepared and submitted by Jesus B. Pelayo, Jerry C. Tomosa, John D.
Bautista, and Zumba T. Kabuntagon, in partial fulfillment of the requirements
for the degree of BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN NURSING, has been examined
and recommended for acceptance and approval for PROPOSAL ORAL
EXAMINATION.

JESUS L. PICARDAL, RN, MATMRS

        Adviser     

PANEL OF EXAMINERS

Approved by the Committee on Oral Examination with a grade of

_____________.

TITO G. RAFIL, Ed. D.

Chairman

MARY ANN M. GOZON JENNIFER H. ARANA, RN, MN

   Member Member   

________________________________________________________________

Accepted and approved in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the

degree of BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN NURSING.

(Date of Proposal Defense)

Jennifer H. Arana, RN, MN

Dean

Department of Nursing
 CONTENTS

Page

TITLE PAGE    i

APPROVAL SHEET       ii

CONTENTS     iii

TABLES    v

FIGURES     vi

CHAPTER

      1        THE PROBLEM AND RESEARCH DESIGN   1

Introduction   1

Theoretical Framework   2

Conceptual Framework   3

Statement of the Problem   4

Hypotheses   4

Significance of the Study   5

Definition of Terms 6

Scope and Limitations of the Study   7

Content   7

Respondents and Place   7

Period   7
      2        REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE AND STUDIES

  

Related Literature – Foreign

Related Literature – Foreign

Related Studies – Foreign

Related Studies – Local

REFERENCES

Bibliography

Webliography

TABLE
Table Page

1 Table Showing the Independent, Intervening, and

Dependent Variable of the Study 3

FIGURES
Figure Page

    1 Schematic Diagram Showing the Independent, 

Intervening, and Dependent Variable of the Study   3   

CHAPTER 1

THE PROBLEM AND RESEARCH DESIGN

Introduction

The nurses caring for COVID-19 patients felt extreme physical fatigue and

discomfort caused by the outbreak, intense work, large number of patients. It has

been demonstrated that coping measures under the pandemic disaster can

alleviate stress. When stressed, nurses constantly adjust cognitive evaluation

through professional knowledge and take the initiative to reduce stress to cope

and adapt to internal and external environment changes, and prevent injuries

caused by stress. (Sun, et al., 2020) The response to the COVID-19 outbreak

during the peak period of the pandemic required great effort from nurses to cope

with these stressful experiences. Coping is a crucial element in the stress

process because it plays a relevant role in the development of its consequences.

(Peiró, Lorente & Vera, 2020). 

In an interview done by the researchers to the nurses of Butuan Doctors’

Hospital, and it shows that almost all of the nurses interviewed state that they are

going through stress. From the stress that the nurses have experienced, they

have their preferred coping mechanisms and most of their answers involve

engaging in physical coping mechanisms such as exercising, having 6-8 hours of

sleep and having quality time with their family, also emotional and mental coping

mechanisms such as having positive mindset and expressing feelings to release

their stress, enhance well-being and improve quality of life.

 The purpose of this study is to determine the coping mechanisms of the

nurses in Butuan Doctors’ Hospital from the stress that they have experienced

due to heavy workload amidst COVID 19 Pandemic.

WHERE IS THE IMPORTANCE HERE?

Theoretical Framework
       
This study will be anchored on Lazarus and Folkman’s Coping Theory which

viewed that coping is dependent patterns and perceptual experiences. The

strategies one chooses is highly individualized. The theory explained the coping

mechanism by the stress cycle where an individual’s perception on the stressful

situation decides how would cope with it. Coping as constantly changing mental

and physical efforts to manage specific external and internal demands. Coping

strategies can be positive or negative, depending on whether they increase or

reduce mental wellbeing. Coping is dependent on personality patterns and

perceptual experiences. The strategies one chooses for adapting to a situation is

highly individualized. Coping is never the same for two people the ultimate goal

of coping mechanisms is to solve a problem and return homeostasis.

(Chowdhury, 2020)

Coping Theory is significant to this study because Butuan Doctors’ Hospital

nurses are experiencing stress and they need to cope physically, mentally and

emotionally with the stressors brought by Covid-19 Pandemic so that the nurses

will again be in a state of equilibrium and has the energy and ability to meet new
demands of their workload and to adjust effectively to the stress that occurs in

their work.

Conceptual Framework

This section shows the schematic diagram of the conceptual framework of

the study. The independent variables are the Physical management, and mental

and emotional management. The dependent variable is coping mechanisms of

nurses of Butuan Doctors’ Hospital to stress due to heavy workload.

Independent Variables Dependent Variable

a. Physical management  Coping mechanisms of nurses of

b. Mental and Emotional Butuan Doctors’ Hospital to stress

management
due to heavy workload. 

Figure 1. Schematic Diagram Showing the Independent, and Dependent

Variables of the Study

Statement of the Problem

This study aims to determine the coping mechanisms of the Butuan Doctors´

Hospital nurses to stress due to heavy workload amidst Covid-19 Pandemic.

Specifically, it seeks to answer the following questions:

1. What is the level of awareness of the Butuan Doctors’ Hospital nurses in

coping mechanisms to stress due to heavy workload in terms of:

1.1. Physical management; and

1.2. Emotional and Mental management?

2. Is there a significant relationship between physical, and emotional and

mental management and the coping mechanisms of nurses in Butuan Doctors´

Hospital to stress due to heavy workload amidst Covid-19 pandemic?

Hypothesis

This study will be guided by null hypothesis to be tested at 0.05 level of

significance.

Ho1. There is no significant relationship between physical, and emotional

and mental management and the coping mechanisms of nurses in Butuan

Doctors´ Hospital to stress due to heavy workload amidst Covid-19 pandemic.

Significance of the Study

The significance of this study (will be ) is the following:

1. Nurses. This study will allow nurses to identify coping mechanisms which

will help them to adjust and release stress effectively.

2. BDH. This study will allow nurses to identify coping mechanisms which will

help them to respond positively to stress, maintain integrity and improve

wellbeing while facing dynamic changes in their workplace. 

Scope and Limitations of the Study

       This section presents the limits and boundaries of this research paper.

Content. The study focuses on the coping mechanisms of nurses to

stress related to heavy workload in Butuan Doctors’ Hospital, J.C. Aquino

Avenue, Barangay Bayanihan, Butuan City. The independent variables are the

Physical Management, and Mental and Emotional Management. The dependent

variable is the coping mechanisms of nurses in Butuan Doctors´ Hospital to

stress due to heavy workload amidst Covid-19 pandemic.       

Respondents and Place. The respondents of the study will be the 20

Nurses of Butuan Doctors’ Hospital, J.C. Aquino Avenue, Barangay Bayanihan,

Butuan City.

       Period. This study will be conceptualized on the Second Semester of

Collegiate Year 2020-2021. The study will formally be conducted on the First

Semester of Collegiate Year 2021-2022.

Definition of Terms

       The following terms are defined by the researchers to facilitate an effective

understanding about the problem.

Coping mechanisms – This refers to the physical, and emotional and

mental management of Butuan Doctors' Hospital nurses to stress due to heavy

workload amidst this Covid-19 Pandemic.

Physical management – this refers to the approach to life that values and

includes physical activity in everyday living it proposed as involving people

moving, acting and performing within culturally specific aspect of nurses in

Butuan Doctors’ Hospital in coping stress related to workload amidst of COVID-

19 pandemic.

Mental and Emotional management – this refers to the emotion-

regulation processes, which includes the regulation of one's own feelings that

involves initiating, inhibiting, or modulating one's state or behavior of nurses in

Butuan Doctors’ Hospital in coping the stress related to workload in the midst of

COVID-19 pandemic.

Stress – This refers to the physical and emotional and mental tension of

Butuan Doctors' Hospital nurses in the changes that brings of Covid-19 pandemic

in their work.

Workload – this refers to the amount of time and care that a nurse of

Butuan Doctors’ Hospital can devote towards patients, workplace, and

professional development in the midst of Covid-19 pandemic.

Research Design

A qualitative research will be used. The main characteristic of qualitative

research is collecting and analyzing non-numeric data to understand concepts,

opinions, or experiences of the nurses of Butuan Doctors’ Hospital.

Research Locale

This study will be conducted at Butuan Doctors’ Hospital, a private hospital

located within Estacio Village along J.C. Aquino Avenue, Barangay Bayanihan,

Butuan City. It is a tertiary level hospital with 150 bed capacity headed by

Claudio B. Estacio, MD, the Chairman of the Board of Trustees and Maria Chiara

M. Estacio, DMD, MBA, the Hospital Administrator. The current Chief Nurse is

Teresita G. Maguikay RN, MN. The institution comprises of three buildings

namely a two-story building, three-story building and a four- story building.

In the first floor of the two-story building, the Radiology Department,

Emergency Room, Admitting Section and Hemodialysis Unit are adjacent to the

physicians’ clinics. In the second floor, it is where the Nursing Service Office,

Operating Room, Neonatal Care Unit, Post Anesthesia Care Unit and Nurses’

Station 2-C with the Head Nurse, Christine Joan G. Siaboc, RN can be located

together with the female medical ward, male medical ward, pediatric ward and

private rooms. In the three-storey building, the pharmacy is located beside the

Center for Medical Arts, while in the second floor of the building is where Nurses’

Station 2B with the Head Nurse, Christopher Ryan I. Empanado, RN, together
with the private rooms and dengue ward, Intensive Care Unit and morgue can be

located. Nurses’ Station 3A with the Head Nurse, Aurine R. Lorete, RN is located

at the third floor together with the female medical-surgical ward, male medical-

surgical ward private rooms, and Covid ward. The floor 2A is now considered as

the isolation area for Covid cases.

In the first floor of the four-storey building, is where the Billing Section, Day

Surgery, Heart Station, Physical Therapy Room, Chemotherapy Room and

Physicians’ Clinics are located. In the second floor, is where the Nurses’ Station

2D with the Head Nurse, Maricris R. Paňaligan, RN and medical records room

are situated together with the medical-surgical private and semi-private rooms. In

the third floor, the Nurses’ Station 3B with the Head Nurse, Rhea Rosaritz D.

Dominise, RN, and Suite Rooms can be found. Lastly, the Administrator’s Office

and the Human Resource Office are located on the fourth floor. 

Respondents and Sampling Procedure 

       Respondents and Sampling Procedure

The respondents of the study will be the 20-25 nurses; ten (10) from Covid

ward and five (5) from Intensive Care Unit, and five (5) from Neonatal Intensive

Care Unit nurses from Butuan Doctors´ Hospital, Butuan City. No sampling will

be used since the total population will be utilized as respondents. USE Slovin’s

formula/ purposive sampling.

Research Instrument
       The researchers will utilize a self-made questionnaire as the instrument in

gathering data from the respondents. The formulated questionnaire will be

checked by the Research Adviser, Jesus L. Picardal, RN, MATMRS. The

questions will be written in English language and will consist of two parts based

on the independent variables; the physical management, and mental and

emotional management. Of what

Data Gathering and Procedure

       The researchers will observe the following step-by-step procedure in

gathering data:

Request for Approval to Conduct the Study. A letter of request to be

signed by the researchers and the Research Adviser, Jesus L. Picardal, RN,

MATMRS, will be sent to the Hospital Administrator, Dr. Maria Chiara M. Estacio,

DMD, MBA, and Nursing Service Office Chief Nurse, Teresita G. Maguikay, RN,

MN to obtain permission to conduct this study.

       Distribution of Questionnaires. The researchers will distribute the

questionnaires to the respondents through their electronic mail.

       Retrieval of Questionnaires. The researchers will retrieve the

questionnaires right after the respondents have answered the questions.

      Consolidation of Data. The data that will be gathered will be checked,

tallied, tabulated, analyzed and interpreted with the application of the appropriate

statistical tools.
Statistical Techniques 

       To have a better understanding on the data gather for study, the following

statistical tools will be utilized:

Insert Likert 5 point continuum with verbal description table

       Weighted Mean. Weighted mean will be used to determine the level of

awareness of the Butuan Doctors’ Hospital nurses in coping mechanisms to

stress due to heavy workload in terms of physical management, and emotional

and mental management.

Formula:

WM=∑fxN
       

Where:

WM = weighted mean

Σ = Summation Sign

f = Frequency of Responses

x = Numerical Rating

N = Total Number of respondents   

       Chi-Square. The chi-square test is a statistical test that can be used to

determine whether observed data are significantly different from expected data

(Bluman, 2015). This will be used to determine if there is significant relationship

between physical, and emotional and mental management and the coping

mechanisms of nurses in Butuan Doctors´ Hospital to stress due to heavy

workload amidst Covid-19 pandemic

Formula:
X2=∑(fo-fe)²fe

       Where: 

x²= chi square

fo = observed frequency

fe = expected frequency

∑ = summation
 CHAPTER 2

REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE AND STUDIES

       This chapter provides some information related to the study. The related

literature and studies give insights in the pursuit of the study. It will also shed light

on the coping mechanisms that are used to cope with stress related to heavy

workload. Likewise, the literature will strengthen the theoretical assentation made

in the study. 

Related Literature- Foreign

According to Huang et.al (2020) The COVID-19 outbreak has placed

immense pressure on hospitals and those nurses at the frontline are more

seriously affected. Hospitals should focus on providing nurses training in coping

strategies. Emotions are believed to have properties that motivate certain

behaviors. For example, fear is related to the desire to evade and protect

themselves from incidents, anger leads to a desire to attack, disgust leads to a

desire to expel, and happiness leads to a desire to entertain. While those who

are sad are more likely to use non-active coping strategies such as avoiding or

accepting problems. In turn, the successful use of coping strategies will help

individuals manage stressful events and reduce negative emotions.

COVID‐19 pandemic has been prevalent in the nursing workforce, potentially

affecting nurses’ well‐being and work performance. Identifying factors that could
help maintain mental health and reduce coronavirus‐related stress among front‐

line nurses is imperative. The studies showed that assistance and protection

given to others, especially individual social support drawn from colleagues,

managers, friends and families is considered to be important for nurses to cope

and deal effectively with different stressors in the work environment. A wide

range of studies identified the positive effects of social support on nurses’ job

satisfaction, work commitment, health and well‐being. Adequate social support

was also seen as vital to helping health care workers effectively manage stressful

events, including emergency situations, disaster events and outbreak of

infectious diseases. (Labrague & De los Santos, 2020)

According to Sun, et al., (2020) The nurses caring for COVID-19 patients felt

extreme physical fatigue and discomfort caused by the outbreak, intense work,

large number of patients, and lack of protective materials. It is known that coping

style, cognitive evaluation, and social support are all mediators of stress. All

nurses activated defense mechanisms and used existing knowledge and new

knowledge of defense mechanism communicated by colleagues or the internet to

adjust themselves and actively or passively used techniques, such as writing

diary and letters, breathing relaxation, mindfulness, music meditation, and

emotional expression and venting. Also, most nurses chose to adjust their sleep

when stressed by work while some nurses will increase their food intake and

some will exercise regularly and maintain physical strength to ensure normal

work ability.
 In addition, during incidents such as infectious outbreaks, healthcare

workers can experience a buildup of stress that can lead stress reactions.

Because of pandemic it will affect the communities and patients. Nurses must

stay proactive in identifying stress levels are rising and finding ways to manage it

before it becomes too much. To cope with stress, nurses should take care of

their physical and mental health with healthy eating, rest, exercise, relaxation,

and meditation. Talk with someone about their feelings, and use a buddy system

to support fellow nurses. (Backler & Dickman, 2020)

Pearce (2020) also stated that the coping mechanisms for nurses during the

pandemic is to have healthy lifestyle strategies including staying hydrated,

maintaining healthy eating and sleeping patterns, and keeping up social contact

with your support networks, even if that contact is virtual. These might include

deep breathing, taking regular exercise, practicing mindfulness, relaxation

techniques or simply talking to a colleague or friend. Nurses are being amazingly

resilient, adapting and stretching to meet the changing daily demands. Staff well-

being initiatives are essential to reduce that stretch and help them to cope.

The nurses used coping strategies to combat the negative effects of the

COVID-19 pandemic such as stress. Nurses changed their attitudes and tried to

remain positive instead of feeling nervous and fight against the pandemic as a

phenomenon supporting positive experiences and growth. Nurses have received

psychosocial support from the social environment and their families during the

COVID-19 process and that they have expressed their emotions and thoughts

regarding the outbreak by keeping diaries and writing letters. Nurses used
strategies, such as sports and listening to music, to deal with the negative effects

of the pandemic and state that they used breathing exercises and listened to

music. (Kackin et.al, 2020)

Support from the organization through the implementation of a safe

workplace environment, provision of complete and quality PPE and supplies to

prevent infection, provision of accurate and timely information regarding the

disease and implementation of relevant trainings related to COVID-19 is critically

important to support nurses in their nursing practices and protect both their

physical and mental health. Social support, such as support originating from

colleagues, friends and families, may help provide a sense of security in nurses

and help alleviate their fears during a pandemic. Through sharing of work

experiences, listening to their concerns and offering empathetic support, nurses’

mental health and psychological well-being will be supported and their morale will

be improved (Maben & Bridges, 2020).

Since excessive COVID-19 anxiety may have negative effects on nurses’

mental health, well-being and work overload during this pandemic is often

caused by a lack of accurate information regarding the disease and may be

addressed by providing nurses with recent and updated information regarding the

disease. Promoting self-care among nurses, by giving flexible or shorter duty

hours, adequate breaks and time scheduling, for example, may help reduce the

negative impact of the crisis and reduce the nurses’ stressors in COVID-19

pandemic. (Cooper et al., 2020)

 The COVID-19 pandemic can further impact the health of nursing workers as

it leads to the challenge of facing the unknown. Daily pressures at work, such as

conflict of interest and overload, the technical responsibility that the profession

requires, the tireless search for quality in care, among many other demands, can

contribute to the emotional imbalance of nursing professionals. Nurses should

seek coping strategies such as specialized psychological support, telephone

service that provides differentiated, confidential and free listening,

complementary integrative practices such as Yoga, Reiki, among others.

Relaxation exercises are as well recommended, in addition to looking for public

mental health services available, in order to improve their working conditions and

physical and mental health. (Enferm & Bras, 2020)

Nurses are on the front lines of the coronavirus pandemic. The role of a

nurse is to provide care and comfort to patients. But coronavirus disease

(COVID-19) has brought unprecedented challenges and an extraordinary degree

of stress for nursing professionals, especially for nurses who work in coronavirus

hotspots. The common approaches that might be helpful for nurses who are at

the center of the coronavirus disease outbreak: Take advantage of nursing

mentors or buddy programs to engage in joint problem-solving. Maintain a

regular exercise program and good nutrition. Participate in outside hobbies for

recreation while maintaining social distancing. Attend an online stress-reduction

class to learn easy-to-implement techniques. These are available as online

courses, webinars, or even YouTube videos. Boost morale through nursing

recognition and reward programs, whether you’re the one to receive or provide
positive feedback. Engage in spiritual or faith-based practices, which can help

maintain focus and equilibrium. Connect virtually with friends, family, and peers.

Support from loved ones and shared experiences with nursing peers can reduce

stress while building community. Strive to engage as a leader—regardless of

actual rank—in order to foster stronger team communications. Take advantage of

resources, such as employee assistance programs, designed to prevent nursing

burnout. It takes a very strong, intelligent, and compassionate person to take on

the ills of the world with passion and purpose and work to maintain the health

and well-being (Cardillo, 2020)

       

Related Literature- Locale

       By reinforcing positive coping strategies and supporting nurses’ self‐efficacy,

nurse can better promote resilience, which is essential when dealing with

workplace adversity and stressful work situations such as disease outbreaks or

pandemics. Coping mechanism such as social support, including support

originating from colleagues, friends and families, may help provide a sense of

security in nurses and help alleviate their fears during a pandemic. Through

sharing of work experiences, listening to nurses’ concerns and offering

empathetic support, nurses’ mental health and psychological well‐being will be

supported and their morale will improve. Nurse managers should provide

adequate organizational support through the implementation of a safe work

environment, provision of complete and quality PPE and supplies to prevent

infection, provision of accurate and timely information regarding the disease and
implementation of trainings relevant to COVID‐19. These organizational practices

are critically important to support nurses in their nursing practices and protect

both their physical and mental health. (Labrague & De los Santos, 2020)

According to Pasay-an (2020) Support from colleagues and supervisors and

clear communication of directives and precautionary measures are

recommended to help reduce stress and/or other psychiatric symptoms.

Consequently, it is imperative to protect the self-esteem and mental health of the

nurses because it might affect the quality of delivering healthcare services. This

finding contributes toward maintaining wellness on the frontline wherein a

supportive work culture is vital to preserving the resilience of nurses during the

COVID-19 pandemic. It is crucial to recognize the frontlines that have perceived

vulnerability to disease and psychological distress to enable timely intervention.

Related Studies- Foreign      

       As the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic accelerates, global

health care systems have become overwhelmed, leading to great pressure on

nurses in the care of critically ill patients with COVID-19. Nurses were advised to

get familiar with the working environment and working procedures as soon as

possible. Working together with colleagues in a harmonious working environment

can help relieve stress. They were asked to express emotions by talking,

drawing, singing, and exercising. Some easy-to-learn methods, such as taking a

deep breath, were encouraged to be used to relieve tension and anxiety.

Relaxation exercise was recommended during work shifts under the guidance of
mental health professionals. They were advised to communicate with colleagues

who had the same experience or similar feelings and then understand and heal

each other. They were asked not to force herself or himself to forget unpleasant

experiences. (Tacket, 2020)

In an article titled “Supporting Health Care Workers During the COVID-19

Pandemic: Mental Health Support Initiatives and Lessons Learned From an

Academic Medical Center” Nurses are given basic needs such as rest or

relaxation, nutrition, physical activity, sleep, and social connectedness.

Throughout the hospital they dispersed laminated posters that included wellness

tips. Provides a place to rest, shower, receive emotional support, and reenergize

with snacks and beverages and aromatherapy, soothing music, TV, and other

distressing activities. Psychiatric nurses were strategically charged with taking

personal protective equipment (PPE) orders throughout the hospital, allowing

them to offer in-person support, including meditations, empathic listening,

encouragement, and support resource flyers. These nurses also organized

donations to create wellness baskets and snack packages for all units. Chaplains

developed a hotline to provide support and to discuss concerns, stressors, and

spiritual well-being. (Gonzalez et. al., 2020)

There is an association between clinical workplace environmental stressors

and stress can influence health in ways that are both direct (systemic

inflammation, arterial damage, increased blood pressure) and indirect

(maladaptive coping such as substance use, poor sleep). Sustained

psychological distress and poor sleep may disturb the body's physiological stress
response system, thereby contributing to further health risk. We also assessed

current coping behaviors and the types of wellness resources that participants

might find useful. Many reported already engaging in stress reduction activities,

especially physical activity/exercise, but also talk therapy, virtual support groups,

and religious/spiritual practices. (Diaz & Moise, 2020)

Due to COVID-19 among the healthcare workers also, the front-line workers

involved directly in handling these patients are at greater risk than others. The

reasons for such adverse psychological outcomes in them range from excessive

workload/work hours, inadequate personal protective equipment, over-

enthusiastic media news, feeling inadequately supported. Based from the

gathered data, it is suggested that the role of social support in medical staff and

looked for its association with self-efficacy, sleep quality, degrees of anxiety and

stress the social support given to medical staff caused a reduction in anxiety and

stress levels and increased their self-efficacy. (Pratapa et.al,2020)

Nursing leaders and managers are in the forefront of responding to the

unique needs of their workforces during the COVID‐19 crisis. They need to

implement stress‐reduction strategies for nurses through providing consecutive

rest days, rotating allocations of complex patients, arranging support services

and being accessible to staff. They also need to ensure nurses' personal safety

through securing and providing personal safety measures and undertake

briefings to ensure their staff's physical and mental well‐being, as well as

providing referrals to appropriate psychological services. (Shahrour & Dardas,

2020)
Related Studies- Locale

Desperate Filipino health workers have spoken of their fears of going to work

as colleagues are struck down with Covid-19 in hospitals that are buckling under

the pressure of thousands of new cases every day. The nurse to patient ratio has

become overwhelmingly unhealthy. Sometimes one nurse is responsible to five

patients at a time. They are psychologically exhausted and emotionally tortured,

but Filipino resiliency is unbreakable, that’s why they are still fighting this battle

with smiles on their faces, praying is their shield and family support are their

strength in coping and facing the pandemic (Olanday & Smith, 2020).

dela Cruz (2020) also stated that Nurses are in the frontline of the battle

against the coronavirus pandemic, with many of them contracting and some

succumbing to the disease.  Amid the serious and constant threat, they hold on

to their faith and family. Filipino professionals are resilient. They easily adjust and

never give up. Doctors and nurses value teamwork and the need to involve

relatives and significant other with how care is provided. Involving family and

significant other can result in better patient outcomes. We draw strength and

inspiration from our families and our faith. This helps us cope with the stress of

taking care of patients with Covid-19.

Healthcare workers are working tirelessly to care for COVID-19 patients.

Healthcare workers bear a much greater risk of exposure to COVID-19, with 15

percent of all coronavirus cases in the Philippines being hospital or health care

workers as of the Department of Health’s (DOH) latest tally in June. Acceptance

and adaptability enabled most Filipinos nurses to follow the new normal and how

to handle everyday situations. They should orient and reorient our themselves

about the values of thriftiness, respect and self-discipline to adapt the current

situation. All in all, it is the uncertainty brought about by the pandemic that

generates all the negative stress that Filipinos have been experiencing, “thus the

anxiety, restlessness, irritability and depression can set in. Your stress escalates

to anxiety and eventually you might develop depression. Eat right, sleep well,

exercise, manage your stress, connect with your friends and make your family

your primary support group,” it will surely the negative feelings will never control

you if you manage to do all these (Frejas, 2020).

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