Anxiety, depression, stress, burnout, and professional quality of life among the hospital workforce during a global health pandemic

Purpose: Working in a hospital setting during a global health pandemic can lead to increased levels of anxiety, stress, burnout, and depression. Anecdotal evidence exists, but there is little research utilizing clinically validated tools to measure hospital staff psychological distress. Methods: In Summer 2021, 771 hospital staff in North Dakota responded to an electronic survey collecting demographic data and employing validated behavioral health screening tools to assess anxiety, depression, emotional distress, and work‐related quality of life. Findings: Compassion satisfaction was significantly higher for those who worked in rural areas than urban [t(769) = –1.99, P = .0467]. The burnout rating was significantly higher for those who worked in urban areas than rural [t(769) = 2.23, P = .0261)]. There was no significant geographic variation in stress, anxiety, or depression. Anxiety, depression, burnout, and stress were all significantly higher for those who worked directly with COVID‐19 patients than those who did not, regardless of hospital location. Conclusions: Hospital staff caring for COVID‐19 patients experienced equitable (and high) levels of depression and anxiety. However, data indicate that rural providers experienced greater protective factors, resulting in lower rates of burnout and higher compassion satisfaction. Rural communities, hospitals, and health systems may have characteristics that could be duplicated in urban areas to support hospital staff well‐being. Support and promotion of mental wellness must also come from the hospital system, and health care and policy leaders. If we do not care for our hospital staff, there will not be hospital staff left to care for the community.