Mental Health Status of Nurses Working in Specialized Oncology Hospital: A Cross-sectional Study

Background: This study was conducted to determine the mental health status of nurses working in oncology units, where intense work performance was required during the COVID-19 pandemic. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted at a specialized oncology hospital and evaluated oncology nurses working in this hospital. Study data were collected using the nurse information form, Brief Symptom Inventory, Beck Depression Scale, and Compassion Fatigue Scale. Results: A total of 269 female (84.3%) and 50 male (15.7%) oncology nurses with a mean age of 34.14 ± 9.53 participated in our study. The depression level of the nurses was mild (10.47 ± 0.50), the level of psychological symptoms was mild (45.59 ± 1.82), and the level of compassion fatigue (51.21 ± 1.54) was moderate. A significant difference was found between participants’ compassion fatigue levels according to their professional experience ( P = 0.002). Oncology nurses with high depression levels had a significantly higher level of compassion fatigue ( z = −8.99, P = 0.001) and psychological symptoms ( z = −9.48, P = 0.001). The level of compassion fatigue was positively and significantly related to both the level of depression ( r = 0.679, P < 0.01) and the level of psychological symptoms ( r = 0.751, P < 0.01). Conclusions: Nurses in oncology setting may not have optimal psychological well-being, and may be vulnerable to depression, compassion fatigue, and anxiety. Such mental health issues may lead to poor health-care-related outcomes, leading to negative consequences financially for both individuals and the organization.