The Relationship Between Professional Quality of Life and COVID-19 Anxiety Among Nurses of Emergency and Intensive Care Units in Najaf, Iraq

Background: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) significantly impacted nurses’ working in emergency and intensive care units, particularly the professional quality of their lives and psychological aspects, such as anxiety. Numerous nurses were infected with the virus, or some died, which generated great work pressure, affecting the nurses’ quality of professional life. Objectives: The present study aimed to investigate the professional quality of life and COVID-19 anxiety among nurses working in emergency and intensive care units in Iraq and the relationship between them. Methods: This cross-sectional correlational study was conducted on 144 nurses working in emergency and intensive care units in Najaf, Iraq. The data were collected between February - May 2021 using the demographic questionnaire, Professional Quality of Life-5, and COVID-19 Anxiety Scale. Results: The mean level of professional quality of life was 101 ± 11.09, indicating that the participants’ professional quality of life was moderate to high. The mean level of COVID-19 anxiety among the participants was 13.3 ± 5.7, which was less than moderate. Moreover, there was a direct and significant correlation between the professional quality of life and COVID-19 anxiety of the participating nurses (r = 0.19, P 0.05). Conclusions: There is a significant direct relationship between the professional quality of life and COVID-19 anxiety among nurses who work in emergency and intensive care units in Najaf. As COVID-19 anxiety increases, the professional quality of life also increases. Although COVID-19 anxiety has increased the nurses’ professional quality of life (this could be due to nurses’ work commitment), it can still have destructive effects on nurses. Nursing managers should pay attention to this issue and take measures to reduce the anxiety of nursing personnel while promoting their professional quality of life.