The impact of professional identity on nurses’ mental health status after the COVID-19 public health emergency: a cross-sectional survey

Aim The purpose of this study was to explore the correlation between the mental health status and professional identity of Chinese nurses after the COVID-19 public health emergency. Method An e-questionnaire survey was designed, and nurses from 4 Chinese hospitals were included in our study. The questionnaires were used to measure nurses’ professional identity, mental health, and sleep quality. Logistic regression analyses were used to explore their relationships. Results The multiple logistic regression analysis suggested that medical assistance, PSQI score, and level of professional identity were independent risk factors for anxiety, and the results of multiple logistic regression analysis suggested that a medium level of professional identity and the PSQI score were independent factors for depression. Discussion The results show that nurses’ professional identity is negatively related to anxiety and depression after experiencing the COVID-19 public health emergency. Implications for practice After the COVID-19 public health emergency, managers urgently need to pay attention to nurses’ mental health issues, which may help improve nurses’ professional identity, increase their work enthusiasm, and benefit their career development.