Occupational Stress and Sleep Quality Among Hungarian Nurses in the Post-COVID Era: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Background and Objectives: The COVID-19 pandemic placed substantial mental and physical burdens on healthcare workers, particularly nurses. In the post-pandemic period, sustained stress, elevated mental workload and disturbed sleep may continue to affect well-being and job performance. This study aimed to assess perceived stress levels, occupational stress, and sleep quality among Hungarian nurses, while identifying key demographic, occupational, and behavioral predictors. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional, quantitative study was conducted from April to July 2022 among nurses employed in Hungarian general hospitals (N = 418). Data were collected via an online self-administered questionnaire. Stress and sleep quality were measured using the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-14), Expanded Nursing Stress Scale (ENSS), and Groningen Sleep Quality Scale (GSQS). Statistical analysis included descriptive statistics, ANOVA, post hoc tests, t-tests, and Pearson's correlation (p < 0.05). Results: The mean PSS-14 score was 27.82 (SD = 7.82), indicating moderate stress. Sleep quality was poor (mean GSQS = 7.29, SD = 4.28), with significant positive correlation with perceived stress (r = 0.442, p < 0.001). Low income, lower education, and high coffee or alcohol consumption, and multiple night shifts were significantly associated with higher stress and poorer sleep quality. Occupational stress and mental workload, as measured by ENSS, was highest in internal medicine (mean = 122.16, SD = 37.09; p = 0.033). The most burdensome ENSS subscale was "workload" (mean = 2.30, SD = 0.92), with "not enough staff to adequately cover the unit" identified as the most stressful item. Additional cognitive and emotional workload components included dealing with violent patients and a lack of emotional preparedness in supporting families. Conclusions: Post-COVID nurses in Hungary experience moderate stress and impaired sleep. Excessive workload, emotional demands, and shift patterns significantly contribute to psychological and cognitive strain. Institutional and policy-level interventions are needed to reduce occupational stress and promote workforce resilience.