The emergency response capacity of nurses is quite important during the COVID-19 epidemic. This study aimed to determine the relationship of resilience with emergency response capacity and occupational stresses during COVID-19 re-outbreak.

This is a cross-sectional study that involved 241 new nurses. Questionnaires (including demographic characteristics and self-report questionnaires) were sent via QR code and used to conduct an online survey of new nurses. Resilience, emergency response capacity, and occupational stressors were measured using questionnaires.

Mean resilience score was 62.68 ± 14.04, which corresponds to a moderate level. Age, marital status, and work experience were significantly associated with resilience (P = 0.037, P = 0.046, P = 0.011) and emergency response capacity (P = 0.018, P = 0.045, P < 0.000). Total score and 3 dimensions of resilience were positively correlated with emergency response competency questionnaire and 3 dimensions (P < 0.01). Total scores of the nurse job stress scale and patient care dimension were negatively correlated with resilience scores (P < 0.05). Resilience played a partial mediating role in occupational stressors and emergency response capacity, and mediating effect accounted for 45.79% of the total effect.

The nursing superintendent must pay more attention to the resiliency of new nurses to reduce occupational stressors and improve emergency response capacity while helping new nurses cope with COVID-19 re-outbreak.