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Background: The enhancement of nursing care quality is closely related to the clinical competence of nurses, making it a crucial component within health systems. Objective: The present study investigated the relationship between nurses' clinical competence, moral identity, and moral injury during the COVID-19 outbreak. Research design: This cross-sectional study was carried out among frontline nurses, using the Moral Identity Questionnaire (MIQ), the Moral Injury Symptom Scale-Healthcare Professionals version (MISS-HP), and the Competency Inventory for Registered Nurse (CIRN) as data collection tools. Participants: and research context: The research population for this study consisted of all frontline nurses (n = 251) employed in a hospital in southern Iran. Sampling was conducted between May 1, 2021 and September 30, 2021, during the COVID-19 outbreak. Ethical considerations: The present study received approval from the research ethics committee of Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences, with project No. 99267 and code of ethics ID No. IR. RUMS.REC.1399.262, dated 15.02.2021. Results: According to the study findings, 42.2% of the nurses demonstrated high clinical competence, while 51.4% exhibited moderate clinical competence. The results indicated a positive correlation between moral identity and clinical competence but a negative correlation between moral injury and clinical competence. Furthermore, the variables of moral identity and moral injury were found to predict 10% of the variance in clinical competence. Conclusion: According to the results, moral identity and moral injury had an impact on the clinical competence of nurses. Therefore, implementing a program aimed at enhancing moral identity and providing training strategies to address moral injury during crises like the COVID-19 pandemic can lead to improvements in nurses' clinical competence and the overall quality of care they provide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

INTRODUCTION: Working through the COVID-19 pandemic has exposed Health Care Workers to physical and psychological risks that can result in a broad range of mental health problems, including burnout. The aim of the present study was to investigate factors affecting burnout in Iranian Health Care Workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. Identifying the principal factors affecting burnout will assist efforts to prepare for, and, prevent harm, to staff participating in future healthcare emergencies. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A systematic review of scientific literature using the PRISMA guideline was completed, and included literature published from January 2020 until December 2021. The articles related to burnout in Iranian Health Care Workers during COVID-19 were obtained through Google Scholar, SID, Magiran Scopus, PubMed, and Web of Science databases using related keywords. Thematic analysis was used to analyze the obtained data. RESULTS: 203 articles were identified through an initial search and finally, 14 studies were entered into the analysis. Based on the literature review, the principal factors affecting burnout were divided into 2 main themes and 4 subthemes. The themes included human factors, and organizational factors, and the subthemes included individual characteristics, psychosocial factors, occupational conditions, and training. CONCLUSIONS: Individual and psychosocial characteristics have important effects on burnout among Health Care Workers and this can cause negative flow-on effects on the quality of life of these workers, and the quality of medical services. The prevalence of burnout is relatively higher among medical practitioners and nurses, and it is important to enhance coping resources and health education activities that support the resilience of these clinicians in the challenging and stressful context of a pandemic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The preparedness of nurses in the COVID-19 pandemic is of great importance with regard to the unknown future of the pandemic and other similar ones. Identifying nurses' problems can lead to better planning, preparation and management. In this study, we aim to explore the experiences and challenges of nursing managers' preparedness for timing responses to the COVID-19 pandemic. We conducted the research as a qualitative content analysis in Iran in 2022. The data were collected through in-depth semi-structured individual interviews with 15 nursing managers who were selected by purposeful sampling. After transcription of the interviews, a content analysis using constant comparison was performed for data analysis based on the Graneheim and Lundman approach. The results of the study can be summarised in the following four main categories and nine subcategories: the necessity of exercises in the same environment (performing exercises to prepare for possible pandemics, experiencing scenes similar to real pandemics, creating the experience of similar environments for the preparation of nurses), educating all members involved in providing services in the COVID-19 pandemic (preparation of non-specialist workers for pandemics, training all members of the treatment and non-treatment team), management and leadership (inappropriate policymaking and unsuitable planning), and processes and structures (processes for providing services and ineffective provision of protective equipment). As we pointed out in this study, it seems that to solve some of these challenges coordination is needed outside the health sector. In addition, the establishment of the National COVID-19 Control Centre can contribute to developing necessary policies and strategies for handling the pandemic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]