Willingness to participate in front-line work during the COVID-19 pandemic: A cross-sectional study of nurses from a province in South-West China

Aim To explore the current status of Chinese nurses' willingness to work during the COVID-19 pandemic and the factors that influence them. Background The demand for front-line nurses continues to grow during the COVID-19 pandemic, but their willingness varies significantly. Therefore, it is crucial to explore nurses' willingness to report for front-line work. Methods A cross-sectional study of 1,310 nurses from six tertiary hospitals was conducted. The participants completed self-administered online questionnaires. Results A total of 90.5% of nurses reported that they would like to voluntarily participate in front-line work. Those with previous training, higher self-efficacy scores, and lower perceived risk and self-worth scores were more likely to participate in front-line work, while nurses, who had 11-15 years of work experience and were worried about their family and the lack of family support, were less likely to be involved in front-line work. Conclusion This study found that the vast majority of nurses were willing to participate in front-line work and affirmed the positive effects of previous infection prevention training, self-efficacy and self-worth. Implications for Nursing Management This research emphasizes the necessity of infection prevention training and provides evidence for further emergency workforce deployment and incentives.