Analysis of the correlation between anxiety status, psychological capital and professional identity under the COVID-19 pandemic

Objective To investigate the anxiety status and psychological capital status of clinical nurses, and to analyze the correlation between anxiety, psychological capital and professional identity under the novel coronavirus pneumonia (NCP) epidemic, also known as 2019 coronavirus disease (COVID-19). Methods A total of 150 clinical nurses in three tertiary hospitals were investigated by general data questionnaire. State Anxiety Inventory (SAI) score, Chinese revised nurse psychological capital questionnaire and nurse professional identity questionnaire. Results There was statistically significant difference (P<0.01) in the professional identity scores of nurses, and the teachers had higher professional identity than the average nurses. The SAI score of nurses was (46.22±8.56), higher than that of the national norm and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.01). The total score of psychological capital of nurses was (18.08±3.29) on average, the total score and the scores of all dimensions were higher than the national norm, and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.01). The total score of nurses' professional identity was (111.08±19.53), the total score and the scores of all dimensions were higher than the national norm, and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). There was a negative correlation between all dimensions and total score of nurses' professional identity and SAI score (P<0.01). There was a positive correlation between nurses' professional identity and the total score of psychological capital and the scores of all dimensions (P<0.01). Conclusions During the time of fighting against COVID-19, the anxiety status, psychological capital and professional identity scores of clinical nurses are all higher than those of national norms. Administrators in the hospitals should take various measures to strengthen psychological intervention, truly implement humanistic care, promote nurses to resist negative emotions, improve psychological capital, strengthen professional identity and thus promote the development of nursing.