Frontline nurses' burnout and its associated factors during the COVID-19 pandemic in South Korea

BACKGROUND: The Coronavirus disease pandemic is a global health crisis with psychological consequences for healthcare workers. PURPOSE: To identify the prevalence and potential factors influencing burnout among frontline nurses in South Korea. METHODS: This cross-sectional study comprised 161 nurses who voluntarily participated in the survey through advertisements at a general hospital. Data on sociodemographic and professional characteristics, insomnia, depression, anxiety, stress, and burnout were collected via an online questionnaire in 2021. RESULTS: Among the participants, 90 had a high level of burnout. Overall, 59.6 %, 23.0 %, 36.0 %, and 17.4 % of nurses experienced insomnia, depression, anxiety, and stress, respectively. The results showed that the assigned number of patients, insomnia, and depression were the major factors affecting burnout levels of nursing staff. CONCLUSIONS: Frontline nurses were the main force in the fight against public health emergencies. The government and medical institutions must consider professional and psychological factors in ameliorating burnout and safety for nurses.