Nurses' preparedness to respond to COVID-19 and associated factors after the outbreak in China

Aim: Nurses are key staff in the response to the COVID-19 epidemic. The aim of present study was to assess Chinese clinical nurses' preparedness levels for COVID-19 after the outbreak, as well as the associated demographic factors.

Design: The design was a cross-sectional survey.

Methods: We distributed an online questionnaire to nurses from five eastern coastal area hospitals. The questionnaire collected demographic information, and included the nurses' preparedness to respond to COVID-19 questionnaire (NPR COVID-19).

Results: The total mean NPR COVID-19 score was 200.99 (standard deviation = 33.60), and the psychological approaches subscale had the lowest mean score. Education and training were positively associated with the NPR COVID-19 score. Nurses' characteristics, such as seniority, job category and educational level, were entered into the NPR COVID-19 regression model, and seniority (≤5 years) showed the strongest negative association with NPR COVID-19 scores (standard coefficient = -0.20).

Conclusions: Chinese nurse's preparedness to respond to COVID-19 was adequate. Nurses with less than 5 years of work experience, nursing researchers and diploma-educated nurses reported feeling a low preparedness to respond to COVID-19. These nurses should receive specific training.