Effect of Anxiety and Calling on Professional Quality of Life in COVID-19 Dedicated Nurses in Korea

This study was conducted to investigate the anxiety, calling, and professional quality of life (ProQOL) of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)-dedicated nurses at COVID-19 hospitals and to identify the factors influencing the ProQOL in COVID-19-dedicated nurses. For this descriptive correlational study, data were collected from June to September, 2021, using structural questionnaires completed by 149 nurses working at four general hospitals with inpatient treatment facilities for patients with COVID-19 in Korea. The State–Trait Anxiety Inventory, Multidimensional Calling Measure, and ProQOL 5 were employed for the survey. The data were examined using descriptive analysis, independent t-tests, one-way analysis of variance, Pearson’s correlation coefficients, and multiple regression analysis. The factors influencing compassion satisfaction were state anxiety, trait anxiety, and calling, with an explanatory power of 64%. The factors influencing burnout were trait anxiety and calling, and the explanatory power was 52%. The factors influencing secondary traumatic stress were state anxiety and trait anxiety, and the explanatory power was 23%. Based on the results, lower anxiety and calling influence the ProQOL of COVID-19-dedicated nurses. We propose that programs to raise and maintain ProQOL should be developed and applied.