Relationship Between COVID-19 Fear and Work Readiness Levels of Nurses New to Working During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Aim: This research was carried out to determine the relationship between fear of COVID-19 and work readiness levels in nurses who have just started working during the COVID-19 pandemic. Method: This research, which was carried out
in accordance with the descriptive and cross- sectional research principles, was conducted between February 2021 and April 2021 with
a total of 166 newly graduated nurses during
the pandemic period. Introductory information form, New Graduate Nurses Job Readiness Scale and COVID-19 Fear Scale were used to collect data. Data were analyzed using descriptive and correlational statistics.
Findings: The total mean score of the participants on the New Graduate Nurses Ready for Work Scale was found to be 298.0±88.4. Work Competence was determined as 87.2±31.4, Social Intelligence 55.0±19.3, Organizational Awareness 120.9±37.9, and Personal Work Characteristics 34.8±18.3. A low negative (r=0.24) correlation was found between the Fear of COVID-19 Scale and the Personal Work Characteristics subscale of the Work Readiness Scale for Graduate Nurses. Fear of COVID-19 Scale total score was found as 16.0±6.6.
Conclusions: As a result, both COVID-19 fear levels and job readiness levels of newly graduated nurses were found to be moderate.
Keywords: COVID-19; nurse; fear; awareness