Nurses and Student Nurses' Usage of Personal Protective Equipment during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract

The relevance of the research: Specialized protective clothing is designed to protect healthcare workers from the risks they face in the daily examination, treatment and care of patients. Nurses and general practice nursing students are members of a large team that nurses patients during a global COVID-19 pandemic. With the onset of a new form of the virus, the level of safety in hospitals increases and personal protective equipment is part of the job. This study aims to determine the use of personal protective equipment by nurses and nursing students during the COVID-19 pandemic. The aim of the research: Determine personal protective equipment usage among nurses and nursing students in response to COVID-19 pandemic. The objectives: 1. Describe what kind of personal protective equipment helps control contagious diseases during a pandemic; 2. Disclose the activities of nurses and nursing students working safely with personal protective equipment; 3. Compare personal protective equipment use among nurses and nursing students. The methods applied: Analysis of scientific literature; instant quantitative research by conducting on anonymous questionnaire; descriptive data analysis. The study involved 28 nurses and 42 general nursing students. The obtained results were processed using apklausa.lt and Microsoft Excel 2013 programs. The results and conclusion of the research: 1.The items of personal protective equipment used most by nurses and nursing students are: gloves, face masks, coats, protective glasses, hair net, students tend to use respirators. 2. The research reveals that nurses and nursing students use protection during nursing and routine treatment activities during COVID-19 pandemic. 3. The study shows that nurses tend to be more diligent when choosing to wear personal protective equipment.