Work-related flow and its correlates among frontline nurses during the COVID-19 pandemic

Background: Ample evidence across non-healthcare fields highlights the role of work-related flow in enhancing resilience against work stress and work engagement. Understanding flow and its factors can support staff development and management. Aims: This study aimed to investigate the level of work-related flow and its associated factors among frontline nurses during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: A cross-sectional multicenter study included 336 nurses caring for COVID-19 patients between March and April 2022. Cluster random sampling was used to select 9 nurse groups from 29 Taiwanese hospitals specialized in COVID-19 care. A web survey link was shared on the selected nurses' social media. Hierarchical regression analyses examined predictor-outcome relationships, following the STROBE checklist for reporting findings. Results: Among demographic characteristics, sex (beta = -0.11; p = 0.016) and living arrangement (beta = -0.12; p = 0.017) reached statistical significance in model 3. Social support from family, friends, and significant others, managerial position, and sufficiency of personal protective equipment showed significant associations with work-related flow (all beta > 0.12; p < 0.05). The variables included in the final model accounted for 35% of the variance in work-related flow for COVID-19 patient care tasks. Conclusions: Flow experience is influenced by factors associated with demographics, work conditions, and social support. Nurse administrators should consider these factors when evaluating nurses' flow at work.