Work-Related Stress and Anxiety Among Frontline Nurses During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Abstract

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has strained the health system worldwide. Nurses caring for patients with COVID-19 reported experiencing significant work-related stress and anxiety. The current online descriptive cross-sectional correlational study aimed to investigate work-related stress and anxiety among nurses caring for patients with COVID-19. Data were collected from 240 nurses using the Stress Overload Scale and Self-Rated Anxiety Scale. Average stress and anxiety scores were 34.96 (SD = 5.85) and 52.8 (SD = 5.48), respectively. Statistically significant differences were found in mean stress overload and anxiety scores based on gender, professional title, average working hours per week, working area, and presence of fear of being infected with COVID-19. These findings suggest the need to promote well-being in nurses and assist nurses and other health care workers experiencing mental and psychological health problems in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. [Journal of Psychosocial Nursing and Mental Health Services, 59(8), 31-42.].