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Article

Work Engagement and Compassion Fatigue Among Nursing Professionals During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Cross-Sectional and Single-Center Study Using the ProQOL-BR and UWES-9 Scales

by
Juliana Lima da Cunha
1,
Luciano Garcia Lourenção
1,2,*,
José Gustavo Monteiro Penha
1,3,
Francisco Rosemiro Guimarães Ximenes Neto
4,
Daiani Modernel Xavier
1,
Vagner Ferreira do Nascimento
5,
Adriane Maria Netto de Oliveira
1,
Daniela Menezes Galvão
1,
Alberto de Oliveira Redü
1 and
Natália Sperli Geraldes Marin dos Santos Sasaki
6
1
School of Nursing, Federal University of Rio Grande, Rio Grande, Rio Grande 96200-400, Brazil
2
Minister’s Office, Ministry of Social Security, Federal Government of Brazil, Brasília 70059-900, Brazil
3
University Hospital of the Federal University of Sergipe, EBSERH Aracajú 49060-025, Brazil
4
Health Sciences Center, Vale do Acaraú State University, Sobral 62042-280, Brazil
5
5 Indigenous Intercultural College, Mato Grosso State University, Barra do Bugres 78390-000, Brazil
6
Department of Specialized Nursing, Faculty of Medicine of São José do Rio Preto, São José do Rio Preto 15090-090, Brazil
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
COVID 2025, 5(8), 124; https://doi.org/10.3390/covid5080124 (registering DOI)
Submission received: 6 July 2025 / Revised: 27 July 2025 / Accepted: 31 July 2025 / Published: 2 August 2025
(This article belongs to the Section COVID Clinical Manifestations and Management)

Abstract

Objectives: This study investigated levels of work engagement and the occurrence of compassion fatigue among nursing professionals during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: A cross-sectional, descriptive, and correlational study was conducted at a Brazilian university hospital between February and April 2022. The Brazilian versions of the Utrecht Work Engagement Scale (UWES-9) and the Professional Quality of Life Scale (ProQOL-BR) were administered. Results: High levels of compassion satisfaction (44.9 points), low levels of burnout (21.0 points), and low levels of secondary traumatic stress (22.8 points) were observed. No professional demonstrated a profile consistent with compassion fatigue. Engagement levels were high for dedication (5.3) and moderate for vigor (4.9), absorption (4.5), and overall engagement (4.9). Burnout showed moderate negative correlations with vigor (r = −0.611, p = 0.005) and dedication (r = −0.599, p = 0.019). Compassion satisfaction showed moderate positive correlations with vigor (r = 0.522, p < 0.001) and dedication (r = 0.572, p < 0.001). The overall engagement score was moderately and positively correlated with compassion satisfaction (r = 0.532, p < 0.001). Conclusions: This study identified high levels of work engagement, especially regarding dedication, and low levels of compassion fatigue among nursing professionals. The data suggest that even amid the emotional and physical demands imposed by the pandemic, participants preserved their emotional well-being and maintained a positive relationship with their work.
Keywords: nursing; work engagement; compassion fatigue; occupational mental health; work psychology; COVID-19. nursing; work engagement; compassion fatigue; occupational mental health; work psychology; COVID-19.

Share and Cite

MDPI and ACS Style

Cunha, J.L.d.; Lourenção, L.G.; Penha, J.G.M.; Ximenes Neto, F.R.G.; Xavier, D.M.; Nascimento, V.F.d.; Oliveira, A.M.N.d.; Galvão, D.M.; Redü, A.d.O.; Sasaki, N.S.G.M.d.S. Work Engagement and Compassion Fatigue Among Nursing Professionals During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Cross-Sectional and Single-Center Study Using the ProQOL-BR and UWES-9 Scales. COVID 2025, 5, 124. https://doi.org/10.3390/covid5080124

AMA Style

Cunha JLd, Lourenção LG, Penha JGM, Ximenes Neto FRG, Xavier DM, Nascimento VFd, Oliveira AMNd, Galvão DM, Redü AdO, Sasaki NSGMdS. Work Engagement and Compassion Fatigue Among Nursing Professionals During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Cross-Sectional and Single-Center Study Using the ProQOL-BR and UWES-9 Scales. COVID. 2025; 5(8):124. https://doi.org/10.3390/covid5080124

Chicago/Turabian Style

Cunha, Juliana Lima da, Luciano Garcia Lourenção, José Gustavo Monteiro Penha, Francisco Rosemiro Guimarães Ximenes Neto, Daiani Modernel Xavier, Vagner Ferreira do Nascimento, Adriane Maria Netto de Oliveira, Daniela Menezes Galvão, Alberto de Oliveira Redü, and Natália Sperli Geraldes Marin dos Santos Sasaki. 2025. "Work Engagement and Compassion Fatigue Among Nursing Professionals During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Cross-Sectional and Single-Center Study Using the ProQOL-BR and UWES-9 Scales" COVID 5, no. 8: 124. https://doi.org/10.3390/covid5080124

APA Style

Cunha, J. L. d., Lourenção, L. G., Penha, J. G. M., Ximenes Neto, F. R. G., Xavier, D. M., Nascimento, V. F. d., Oliveira, A. M. N. d., Galvão, D. M., Redü, A. d. O., & Sasaki, N. S. G. M. d. S. (2025). Work Engagement and Compassion Fatigue Among Nursing Professionals During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Cross-Sectional and Single-Center Study Using the ProQOL-BR and UWES-9 Scales. COVID, 5(8), 124. https://doi.org/10.3390/covid5080124

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