NINE in 10 nurses and midwives feel mentally exhausted due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

New research from the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organization (INMO) has found that 85% of nurses and midwives believe their experience with Covid-19 has had a negative psychological impact on them.

The survey, conducted between April and July 2021, shed light on the psychological impact of Covid-19 on nurses and midwives in Ireland with more than 1,905 nurses and midwives responding.

Research found that 62% of those surveyed were caring for patients who died from Covid-19.

68% of nurses and midwives have considered leaving the profession due to Covid-19, of which 25% are likely or very likely to leave the profession in the next 12 months.

Nine in ten respondents (91%) said they felt mentally exhausted when not working. Over 90% said they felt at least sometimes mentally exhausted at work and after work.

Most respondents reported trouble sleeping and high levels of stress and worry.

22% of those surveyed contracted Covid-19, of which more than 56% had long-term effects.

“We cannot ignore the fact that two-thirds of nurses and midwives tell us they are considering leaving the profession due to the impact of Covid-19,” said the secretary general of INMO , Phil Ní Sheaghdha.

“Before Covid-19 landed on our shores, we had already sounded the alarm that the recruitment and retention of nurses and midwives was going to be something the government and the HSE needed to focus on,” said Ní Sheaghdha.

She added that measures must be put in place “immediately” to support the workforce.

“Nurses and midwives have been working in a dangerous environment around the clock for over 18 months. They need to be relieved from the constant overcrowded work situations they face on a daily basis, and accelerated clinical support measures need to be put in place, ”said Ní Sheaghdha.

“Occupational health services are simply not available across the country and many members report long wait times for an appointment,” she said.

Ní Sheaghdha added that “in the coming weeks we should see funding planned for the implementation of safe staffing in health services and measures to reduce the pressure on hospitals.”