Aim To identify groups of nurses engaging in coronavirus disease (COVID‐19) care who are most in need of organizational support. Background Overwhelming stress and susceptibility to burn‐out have been reported in nurses during the COVID‐19 pandemic. Methods Nurses working at five hospitals which accepted COVID‐19 patients answered the questionnaire. The Tokyo Metropolitan Distress Scale for Pandemic, Self‐Diagnosis Check List for Assessment of Workers’ Accumulated Fatigue, and Japanese Burnout Scale were evaluated. Multiple regression analysis was performed to examine the relationship between engaging in COVID‐19 care and psychosocial/physical burden. Results In total, 895 questionnaires were analyzed. With experience in caring for COVID‐19 patients as the independent variable, nurses caring for suspected cases had significantly higher standardized Tokyo Metropolitan Distress Scale for Pandemic scores for “concerns for infection” (standardized partial regression coefficient β = 0.921, P = 0.004), Assessment of Workers’ Accumulated Fatigue (β = 0.445, P = 0.022), and Japanese Burnout Scale “emotional exhaustion” (β = 0.136, P = 0.021) than those caring for confirmed cases. Conclusions Nurses caring for suspected COVID‐19 patients have the highest psychological/physical burden and propensity for burnout. Implications for Nursing Management Extensive support systems are required for nurses caring for confirmed and suspected COVID‐19 cases.

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