RESILIENCE AND WORK ENGAGEMENT OF FILIPINO NURSES WORKING IN COVID-DESIGNATED UNITS IN A NATIONAL UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL

Abstract

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic brought indelible negative impact to the wellbeing of healthcare workers. Nurses who are at the frontlines providing direct care to infected patients are confronted with immense physical and emotional stress arising from healthcare demands and unfavorable work environment. Resilience as a multidimensional concept is crucial in coping with adversities and maintaining engagement at the workplace.
Objectives: This study aimed to determine the level and relationship of resilience and work engagement among nurses deployed in COVID-designated units in a national tertiary hospital at the National Capital Region, Manila.
Methods: This is a descriptive correlational study. A total of 172 nurses who provide direct patient care and have been deployed in the COVID units for at least six months in a national COVID referral center participated in the study. A proportional stratified sampling technique was used. Respondents completed the online-based, Likert-type adapted tool on Measuring Resilience and Engagement. Cross-sectional data were collected from June to September 2021. Linear regression was used to ascertain the relationship between resilience and work engagement. Ethical clearance was provided by the University of the Philippines Manila Research Ethics Review Board.
Results: Resilience which was measured by decompression (M= 5.54, SD= 1.20) and activation (M= 5.43, SD= 2.07) and engagement (M= 5.51, SD= 2.15) were reported as average. Decompression means the ability of an individual to disconnect from work issues and enjoy personal time, while activation pertains to one’s capacity to find meaning at work. Regression analysis revealed that resilience was a significant predictor of engagement (p= 0.000). Furthermore, it revealed that a unit increase in the level of decompression increases work engagement by 0.30, and with a unit increase in the level of activation, work engagement increases by 0.42.
Conclusion: This study provides evidence that resilience is a significant predictor of work engagement among nurses assigned in COVID units.
Impact: Investing programs that support nurses’ resilience increases the likelihood of their engagement at the workplace. This is pivotal for hospital administrators to prioritize during the pandemic when nurses are suffering from burn-out, stress and undue fatigue that compel them to disengage and leave the profession.