Prepared for future pandemics: assessing nursing staff's mental capability and psychosocial support needs - A nationwide cross-sectional study.

Background
The mental capability of nursing staff to provide care during future pandemics, their post-COVID-19 mental health, and their preferences for psychosocial support during pandemics are important considerations for pandemic preparedness.

Purpose
To examine nursing staff's perceived mental capability to provide care during future pandemics, their mental health post-COVID-19, and preferences for psychosocial support during pandemics.

Methods
From March to June 2024, 679 Dutch nursing staff across healthcare sectors completed an online survey. Descriptive and non-parametric statistics examined outcomes and associations. This study adhered to the STROBE guidelines.

Discussion
Most (90.4%) felt mentally capable of providing care during a future pandemic, with no associations found for demographics, work characteristics, COVID-19 patient care, or redeployment. Mental health was generally good (median Mental Health Inventory-5: 84) and positively associated with higher perceived mental capability to work during a future pandemic. Nursing staff preferred peer-based support (e.g., group conversations with colleagues, moral case deliberations, and pairing up with a colleague during work), followed by one-on-one conversations with a coach and lessons on stress management. Key support topics included workload challenges, witnessing patient suffering, and patient loneliness.

Conclusion
This study addresses the lack of prospective research on nursing staff's perceived mental capability to provide care during future pandemics, as well as their mental health and support preferences. While nursing staff reported high mental capability to provide care in a future pandemic and good mental health, various forms and topics for psychosocial support are considered beneficial. The results underscore the necessity of a varied and layered psychosocial support system that is aligned with nursing staff's preferences and rapidly deployable in future pandemics.