ABSTRACT Objective: to identify psychological alterations in nursing professionals belonging to and not belonging to the risk group for complications of COVID-19. Methods: multicenter cross-sectional study with 845 nursing professionals from four hospitals in southern Brazil between August and October 2020. Data collection was performed through an electronic form containing the Self-Reporting Questionnaire and the Maslach Burnout Inventory. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used. Results: among the 845 participants, 214 belonged to the risk group. These presented higher means in emotional exhaustion and depersonalization scores (p<0.05), and higher percentages of Minor Psychiatric Disorders (55.2%). Minor Psychiatric Disorders and being part of institution B explained in 10.0% the variability of Professional Achievement. Minor Psychiatric Disorders, use of medications, impact on mental health and being part of institutions A, B and C explained in 38.7% the variability of Emotional Exhaustion. Minor Psychiatric Disorders, impact on mental health and being part of institutions A and B explained in 23.1% the variability of Depersonalization. Conclusions: the risk group presented greater exposure to psychological alterations. The regression model did not identify a difference between being or not of the risk group regarding Burnout Syndrome. The study contributes to the planning of protective labor interventions within institutions and public health policies, aiming to reduce possible factors related to the involvement of Burnout Syndrome and Minor Psychiatric Disorders.