What factor contributes to the stress on healthcare workers during a pandemic like COVID-19?

During a pandemic like COVID-19, healthcare workers face an increased burden that significantly contributes to their overall stress levels. One of the primary factors is the increased patient ratio. During such emergencies, healthcare facilities often experience a surge in the number of patients seeking care, which means that healthcare workers must attend to more patients than usual, leading to heightened workloads and pressure.

Moreover, inadequate staffing levels exacerbate the situation. Facilities may struggle to recruit sufficient staff to meet the demand, resulting in existing healthcare workers having to take on more responsibilities and work longer hours without adequate support. This can lead to feelings of overwhelm and burnout.

While lower salaries may also be a concern in some contexts, the collective impact of increased patient ratios and inadequate staffing primarily drives the stress experienced by healthcare workers during a pandemic. Hence, the situation encompasses all the mentioned factors, making "All of the above" the most comprehensive and accurate choice.