Anxiety and Violence Against Nurses in Turkey During The COVID-19 Pandemic

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.53713/nhsj.v3i2.243

Keywords:

anxiety, COVID-19, nurses, pandemic violence

Abstract

During the pandemic process, nurses felt more anxious and nervous compared to other health professionals and were frequently exposed to verbal-emotional-psychological violence. This study was conducted to determine the anxiety levels of nurses, their exposure to violence, and the factors affecting the anxiety and witnessed violence of nurses during the COVID-19 pandemic in Turkey. The descriptive study data were collected in the period between October 2020 and March 2021 via the online questionnaire published on the Turkish Nurses Association’s website. The study sample consisted of 3,230 nurses. In this study, it was found that the majority of participants in the study were women (83,5%), working 24-hour shifts (49.3%) at hospitals run by the Ministry of Health (68.7%), caring for COVID-19 patients (82.1%). Nurses experienced very high levels of anxiety and were exposed to violence from patients, family members, or other healthcare professionals during the COVID-19 pandemic. Also, this study shows that nurses experienced high anxiety levels and increased exposure to violence in association with the high number of patients to provide care for, long working hours, being forced to work despite COVID-19 symptoms, working with COVID-19 patients, the fear of infecting family members, having difficulties in caring for family members, financial losses, and the unavailability of changing rooms. In line with the results of this study, the responsibility range of managers and decision-makers is wide in protecting the physical and mental integrity of nurses, anticipating, and addressing their needs and resolving their problems, and managing the nurse manpower and the supply of PPE in accordance with standards so that nurses can provide qualified and safe nursing practices. The findings of this study will help to ensure that nursing care is safe, consistent, and competent, as well as guide future planning.

Author Biographies

Sevilay Senol Celik, Koc University, School of Nursing, İstanbul, Turkey

Koc University, School of Nursing, İstanbul, Turkey

Telephone number: 05356666863

E-mail: sevilaycelik@ku.edu.tr

Adress: Topkapı, Koç Üniversitesi Sağlık Bilimleri Kampüsü, Davutpaşa Cd. No:4, 34010 Zeytinburnu/İstanbul

Hulya Bulut, Gazi University, Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Nursing, Ankara, Turkey

Gazi University, Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Nursing, Ankara, Turkey

Telephone number: 0532 721 62 13

E-mail: bhulya@gazi.edu.tr

Adress: Emek, Bişkek Caddesi, 6. Sokak, No: 2, 06490 Çankaya/Ankara

Azize Atali Ozbas, Hacettepe University, Faculty of Nursing, Ankara, Turkey

Hacettepe University,Faculty of Nursing, Ankara, Turkey

Telephone number: 05058302623

E-mail: azize.atli@hacettepe.edu.tr

Adress: Hacettepe Üniversitesi Hemşirelik Fakültesi

06100 Sıhhiye- Ankara

Azize Karahan, Baskent University, Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Nursing, Ankara, Turkey

Baskent University,Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Nursing, Ankara, Turkey

Telephone number: 05324319456

E-mail: kazize@baskent.edu.tr

Adress: Bağlıca Kampüsü Fatih Sultan Mahallesi Eskişehir Yolu 18.km 06790 Etimesgut/Ankara

Gulten Koc, Hacettepe University, Faculty of Nursing, Ankara, Turkey

Hacettepe University,Faculty of Nursing, Ankara, Turkey

Telephone number: 05448407047

E-mail: gultenko@hacettepe.edu.tr

Adress: Hacettepe Üniversitesi Hemşirelik Fakültesi

06100 Sıhhiye- Ankara

Cigdem Ozdemir Ozleyen, Ankara Guven Hospital, Ankara, Turkey

Ankara Guven Hospital,Ankara, Turkey

Telephone number: 05382073051

E-mail: cigdem-ozdemir@yandex.com

Adress: Kavaklıdere, Remzi Oğuz Arık Mahallesi, Şimşek Sk. No:29, 06540 Çankaya/Ankara

Firuze Cevik Aydin, Ankara City Hospital, Ankara, Turkey

Ankara City Hospital, Ankara, Turkey

Telephone number: +90 533 651 87 36

E-mail: firuzecevik@hotmail.com

Adress: Üniversiteler, 1604. Cd. No:9, 06800 Çankaya/Ankara

Beyhan Celik, Bayındır Hospital, Ankara, Turkey

Bayındır Hospital, Ankara, Turkey

Telephone number: 0553 295 48 64

E-mail: celik.beyhan@hotmail.com

Adress: Bayındır Kavaklıdere Hastanesi Atatürk Bulvarı no: 201 Çankaya /Ankara

İnci Mercan Annak, Gazi University, Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Nursing, Ankara, Turkey

Gazi University, Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Nursing, Ankara, Turkey

Telephone number: 0553 250 00 86

E-mail: incimercan@gazi.edu.tr,incimercanannak@gmail.com

Adress: Emek, Bişkek Caddesi, 6. Sokak, No: 2, 06490 Çankaya/Ankara

Yusuf Celik, Marmara University, Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Health Management, Istanbul, Turkey

Marmara University, Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Health Management, Istanbul, Turkey

Telephone number:

E-mail: yusuf.celik@marmara.edu.tr

Adress: RT Erdogan Campuss, Maltepe, Istanbul

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Published

2023-05-18

How to Cite

Senol Celik, Sevilay, Hulya Bulut, Azize Atali Ozbas, Azize Karahan, Gulten Koc, Cigdem Ozdemir Ozleyen, Firuze Cevik Aydin, Beyhan Celik, İnci Mercan Annak, and Yusuf Celik. “Anxiety and Violence Against Nurses in Turkey During The COVID-19 Pandemic”. Nursing and Health Sciences Journal (NHSJ) 3, no. 2 (May 18, 2023): 144–154. Accessed October 22, 2025. https://nhs-journal.com/index.php/nhs/article/view/243.

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