Resilience, Professional Quality of Life, and General Health Among Nurses Post-COVID-19: A Cross-Sectional Study in Southeast Iran

Introduction: Due to the profound impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, nurses have faced heightened workloads and stress, significantly affecting their mental health. This study examined professional quality of life (ProQOL), general health, and resilience among nurses working in hospitals affiliated with Zabol University of Medical Sciences, Iran. Methods: This descriptive, correlational, cross-sectional study involved 243 nurses from four hospitals affiliated with Zabol University of Medical Sciences. Data were collected in 2022 using validated scales (ProQOL-5, GHQ-28, CD-RISC-10) and analyzed with SPSS v23, employing t-tests and Pearson correlations (P<0.05). Results: General health (r=0.85) and resilience (r=0.26) were positively correlated with ProQOL, while resilience and general health showed a strong correlation (r=0.61). Notably, 48% of participants reported high burnout, and 56% experienced secondary traumatic stress. The mean general health score was 42.56±0.41, with depression scoring the lowest (7.14±0.64) and social dysfunction the highest (12.74±0.67). Additionally, 58% of nurses exhibited moderate resilience. Conclusion: The findings underscored the critical interrelationships between ProQOL, general health, and resilience among nurses. The high prevalence of burnout necessitates targeted interventions, such as resilience training and enhanced support systems, to improve mental health outcomes, nurse well-being, and patient care quality.