This database contains primary data from a mixed methods study, whose main objective was to analyze the association between mental health and socio-occupational, health and risk and harm perception characteristics of nursing workers who worked on the front line of coping with COVID-19 in reference hospitals in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. The survey was conducted with nursing workers assigned to COVID-19 units in seven hospitals in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. Quantitative data were collected through a questionnaire with sociodemographic, work, health and risk and damage perception data, in addition to the Self-Reporting Questionnaire (SRQ-20). Qualitative data were collected through semi-structured interviews.