Work stress among Chinese nurses to support Wuhan in fighting against COVID‐19 epidemic

• Published in: Journal of Nursing Management Vol. 28; no. 5; pp. 1002 - 1009
• Main Authors: Mo, Yuanyuan, Deng, Lan, Zhang, Liyan, Lang, Qiuyan, Liao, Chunyan, Wang, Nannan, Qin, Mingqin, Huang, Huiqiao
• Format: Journal Article Web Resource
• Language: English
• Published: England John Wiley & Sons, Inc 01.07.2020; Hindawi Limited
• Subjects: a cross‐sectional survey; Adult; Anxiety; China - epidemiology; Chinese languages; Chinese nurses; Coronavirus Infections - epidemiology; Coronavirus Infections - nursing; COVID-19; COVID‐2019 epidemic; Cross-Sectional Studies; Disease control; Epidemics; Epidemics - prevention & control; Female; Humans; Infections; Male; Mental health; Middle Aged; Nurse led services; Nurses; Nursing administration; Nursing Staff - psychology; Nursing Staff - statistics & numerical data; Occupational stress; Occupational Stress - epidemiology; Only children; Pandemics; Pneumonia, Viral - epidemiology; Pneumonia, Viral - nursing; Psychiatric nurses; Public health; Public health nurses; Regression analysis; Risk Factors; Stress; work stress; Working hours; Wuhan; Young Adult; China; Chinese nurses; work stress; COVID-2019 epidemic; Wuhan; a cross-sectional survey
• ISSN: 0966-0429; 1365-2834
• DOI: 10.1111/jonm.13014

Aims To investigate the work stress among Chinese nurses who are supporting Wuhan in fighting against Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID‐19) infection and to explore the relevant influencing factors. Background The COVID‐19 epidemic has posed a major threat to public health. Nurses have always played an important role in infection prevention, infection control, isolation, containment and public health. However, available data on the work stress among these nurses are limited. Methods A cross‐sectional survey. An online questionnaire was completed by 180 anti‐epidemic nurses from Guangxi. Data collection tools, including the Chinese version of the Stress Overload Scale (SOS) and the Self‐rating Anxiety Scale (SAS), were used. Descriptive single factor correlation and multiple regression analyses were used in exploring the related influencing factors. Results The SOS (39.91 ± 12.92) and SAS (32.19 ± 7.56) scores of this nurse group were positively correlated (r = 0.676, p < .05). Multiple regression analysis showed that only children, working hours per week and anxiety were the main factors affecting nurse stress (p = .000, .048, .000, respectively). Conclusions Nurses who fight against COVID‐19 were generally under pressure. Implications for Nursing Management Nurse leaders should pay attention to the work stress and the influencing factors of the nurses who are fighting against COVID‐19 infection, and offer solutions to retain mental health among these nurses.