Situación de la enfermera de cardiología durante la pandemia COVID-19

Introduction and objectives. Since the SARS-CoV-2 virus spread throughout Europe, thereby creating a health emergency, cardiology services have become particularly affected. Nurses have been working under very hard conditions, with risks to their safety and health. The aim is to evaluate the change in the activity of the cardiology units due to the pandemic by COVID-19; to evaluate how the nursing staff of the cardiology units becomes affected, and to evaluate the nurses‘ psychological state. Methods. The study was carried out through a telematic survey distributed to a universe of about 1200 members of the Spanish Association of Nursing in Cardiology. The survey was sent on May 13th and answers were received until May 24th. The survey comprises 29 questions and analyzes three main points. Results. The survey answer was obtained from 282 cardiology nurses. Cardiology nurses from a total of 16 autonomous communities participated. 43.9% of the nurses who were surveyed had been treating patients with COVID-19, in 30.8% of which their unit had been transformed into a COVID-19 unit. 57.8% state that some member of the team has been on sick leave due to close contact with COVID-19. 73.1% state that they have been provided with the appropriate protective equipment. Uncertainty has been the most outstanding emotion (72.8%), followed by sadness (60.1%) and fear (55.5%). Conclusions. An important reduction in healthcare activity during the COVID-19 epidemic has been confirmed. Most nurses having been surveyed state that during the pandemic they have suffered from nightmares, insomnia, difficulty to concentrate, and emotions such as uncertainty, sadness, fear, annoyance and irritability. Scientific societies and health authorities should provide professionals with the appropriate material, promote that coronary patients demand assistance from the health system in order to receive the adequate treatment, as well as provide psychological support to those health workers who have been on the frontline during the pandemic.