Coping resources for nursing interruptions among emergency nurses in China: A multicenter cross-sectional study

Emergency nursing involves frequent interruptions threatening patient safety and nurses' well-being. Nurses' coping resources for managing interruptions remain understudied, particularly in Chinese emergency settings.

To test Conservation of Resources theory hypotheses on the associations between objective resources, work demands, and coping resources among Chinese emergency nurses.

Theory-driven cross-sectional survey with hypothesis testing.

2149 emergency nurses from 126 hospitals in seven Chinese regions (November-December 2024).

Coping resources were measured with a validated 26-item scale. Task load was assessed with NASA-TLX. Interruption frequency was assessed with the 12-item Workplace Interruption Measurement Scale. Bivariate correlations and multiple linear regression identified associated factors.

Coping resources were moderately low. In the regression model, higher coping resources were independently associated with emergency specialist certification, interruption training, higher education, and professional title. Task load and interruption frequency were negatively associated. Age, marital status, experience, and hospital size were not significant predictors.

Chinese emergency nurses report moderately low coping resources for interruptions. These resources related more to formal qualifications than to demographics or work experience. Credential-based education and targeted training may enhance nurses' capacity to manage interruptions. Longitudinal research is needed to establish causality and test interventions.