The Cost of Frontline Nursing: Investigating Perception of Compensation Inadequacy During the COVID-19 Pandemic

BACKGROUND: Nursing professionals experienced greater levels of stress and burnout during the COVID-19 pandemic. Studies examining stress and burnout have found a relationship between compensation and burnout. However, further studies are needed to examine the relationship between the mediating effects of supervisor and community support and coping strategies and the effects of burnout on compensation. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study is to build on previous burnout research by examining the mediation effects of supervisor and community support and coping strategies on the relationship between sources of stress and burnout on feelings of compensation inadequacy, or the desire for more compensation. METHODS: Using Qualtrics survey responses from 232 nurses, this study used correlation testing and mediation analyses of indirect, direct, and total effects to explore the relationships between critical factors influencing stress, burnout, nurses’ use of coping skills, and the perception of supervisor and community support on perceived compensation inadequacy. RESULTS: This study found that the support domain has a significant and positive direct effect on compensation, with supervisor support increasing the desire for additional compensation. Support was also found to have a significant and positive indirect effect and a significant and positive total effect on the desire for additional compensation. This study’s results also found that coping strategies had a significant, direct positive effect on the desire for additional compensation. While problem solving and avoidance increased the desire for additional compensation, transference had no significant relationship. CONCLUSION: This study found evidence of the mediation effect of coping strategies on the relationship between burnout and compensation.