Factors affecting nurses’ duty to care during the COVID-19 pandemic

Background Although the demand for nursing care in disaster situations has grown, there has been a lack of discussion on nurses’ duty to care in these situations. Aim This study aimed to examine South Korean nurses’ duty to care during the COVID-19 crisis and identify factors influencing the same. Research design This was a cross-sectional descriptive research study, using a structured online questionnaire. Participants and research context Korean registered nurses (n = 342) in a clinical setting were recruited. Participants responded to a demographic questionnaire and the Nash Duty to Care Scale. After excluding missing values, data from 320 nurses were analyzed. Findings Older age and working at a general hospital increased nurses’ duty to care. Being male, higher education level, and working at a general hospital increased perceived risk. Older age, more clinical career experience, a master’s degree or above, and working at a higher-level hospital increased nurses’ confidence in their employer. Older age and higher monthly wage increased perceived obligation. Older age, job position, 3–7 years of clinical experience, working at the internal medicine department, and working at the tertiary hospital were factors associated with increased professional preparedness. Age was a factor influencing all dimensions of duty to care, except perceived risk. Clinical career influenced both confidence in employer and professional preparedness. Conclusion Given the lack of research on nurses’ duty to care, this study expands the scope of nursing research. In the future, more active research on nurses’ duty to care should be conducted.