Aims To examine coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic-related work factors for adverse effects on the mental health and whether organisational strategies attenuate these effects. Background COVID-19 pandemic has led to increased work burden and mental health risks for nurses. Methods A total of 1499 Taiwanese full-time nurses completed a web-based questionnaire between July and December 2020. Pandemic-related work conditions, namely increased working hours, caring for COVID-19 patients, occupational stigma, and redeployment, were assessed. Organisational strategies to combat pandemic-related work stressors including compensation to workers and adequate protection equipment were surveyed. Outcome measures were intention to leave, burnout, and depression assessed using validated questionnaires. Results Redeployment, increased working hours, and occupational stigma were associated with adverse mental health and intention to leave in logistic regression analysis. Caring for COVID-19 patients was negatively associated with depression. Adequate compensation for workers modified the association between redeployment and burnout. Conclusions Pandemic-related work conditions were associated with adverse mental health and intention to leave. Organizational strategies attenuated the adverse impact of the pandemic. Implications for Nursing Management Efforts to decrease stigma, and organizational strategies including compensation for workers and adequate protection equipment provision should be adopted to improve nurses’ health during a pandemic.

Objectives: Studies concerning the risk of metabolic syndrome associated with night work have shown inconsistent findings, due to imprecise working time data and cross-sectional design. We used register-based daily working time data to examine the risk of incident metabolic syndrome associated with night shift work. Methods: Working time data collected between 2010 and 2018 of 5775 Taiwanese hospital workers were used to identify night shift workers and to calculate the number of night shifts. Metabolic syndrome was identified by annual occupational health examination results, which were linked to the working time data. Logistic regression models and generalized estimating equations were used to examine the association between night shift work and metabolic syndrome and the 5 components of metabolic syndrome. Results: Night shift work is associated with a higher risk of developing metabolic syndrome (adjusted OR = 1.36, 95% CI = 1.04 to 1.78) and high waist circumference (adjusted OR = 1.27, 95% CI = 1.07 to 1.78) compared to day work. Among night shift workers, increased number of night shifts was associated with high blood pressure (adjusted OR = 1.15, 95% CI = 1.01 to 1.31). Conclusions: Night shift work is associated with metabolic risk factors. Long-term effects of circadian rhythm disruption on metabolic disturbances needs to be further studied.

Work–family conflicts (WFCs) are common in the healthcare sector and pose significant health risks to healthcare workers. This study examined the effect of WFCs on the health status and nurses’ leaving intentions in Taiwan. A self-administered questionnaire was used to survey 200 female nurses’ experiences of WFC from a regional hospital. Data on psychosocial work conditions, including work shifts, job control, psychological job demands, and workplace justice, were collected. Health conditions were measured using the Beck Depression Inventory-II and self-rated health. Leaving intentions were measured using a self-developed questionnaire. The participants’ average work experience was 6.79 (Standard Deviation (SD) = 5.26) years, their highest educational level was university, and work shifts were mostly night and rotating shifts. Approximately 75.5% of nurses perceived high levels of WFCs. Leaving intentions were correlated with WFCs (r = 0.350, p < 0.01) and psychological work demands (r = 0.377, p < 0.01). After adjusting for age, educational level, and work characteristics, high levels of WFCs were associated with poor self-rated health, and depression, but not associated with high leaving intentions. Nurses’ experiences of high levels of WFCs greatly affected their health status.