Experiences of nurses diagnosed with COVID‐19 in Turkey: A qualitative study

Abstract

This study examined the experiences of nurses diagnosed with COVID-19 under the guidance of Meleis' Transitions Theory. Background: Nurses, who make up the majority of healthcare professionals, are struggling with COVID-19, a silent war, on the front lines at the cost of their lives. The pandemic has deeply affected nurses' lives, and hundreds of nurses around the world have been diagnosed with COVID-19 and died. Methods: A descriptive qualitative approach was used in this study. Data were collected from 18 nurses who experienced COVID-19 symptoms, with a semistructured interview form prepared based on Meleis' Transitions Theory concepts. Interview transcripts were analyzed using a thematic analysis technique. The Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Research checklist was used in the study. Results:The six themes that emerged in the data analysis were emotions experienced when nurses tested positive for COVID-19, emotions experienced during the quarantine process, posttraumatic growth, methods of coping with COVID-19, nursing care after COVID-19 treatment, and metaphors about COVID-19. Conclusion:This study showed that being diagnosed with COVID-19 caused nurses to have both positive (posttraumatic growth, empathic and psychosocial nursing care) and negative experiences (fear of death, stigma, etc.). They tried to cope with adverse situations due to COVID-19 by obtaining social support, thinking positively, and engaging in domestic activities. Implications for nursing and health policy: To reduce COVID-19-related physical and psychological symptoms, appropriate policies should be developed for effective and rapid nursing workforce planning, extending the time allocated for postdiagnosis treatment, updating infection control and prevention guides, training nurses, and providing ongoing psychosocial counseling services that nurses can access.

Experiences and perspectives of nurses infected with COVID‐19: A qualitative systematic review and meta‐synthesis

“…Table 2 summarizes the included studies conducted mainly in China ( K = 6) (Chun et al, 2021; Dou et al, 2021; He et al, 2021; Jiang et al, 2022; Luo et al, 2022; Zhang et al, 2021), Turkey ( K = 4) (Özlük & Bikmaz, 2021; Ruveyde & Bulut, 2022; Savas et al, 2022; Topdemir et al, 2022), Iran ( K = 2) (Safiri et al, 2022; Shali et al, 2022), Italy ( K = 2) (Piredda et al, 2022; Simeone et al, 2022), Zimbabwe ( K = 1) (Moyo et al, 2022), Indonesia ( K = 1) (Siagian & Rantung, 2022), and the United Arab Emirates ( K = 1) (Khaled et al, 2022) between 2021 and 2022. These seventeen studies involved 271 nurses, predominantly female, and covered a wide age range.…”

“…Furthermore, phenomenology ( K = 10) (Chun et al, 2021; Dou et al, 2021; He et al, 2021; Jiang et al, 2022; Khaled et al, 2022; Luo et al, 2022; Moyo et al, 2022; Piredda et al, 2022; Siagian & Rantung, 2022; Simeone et al, 2022) and descriptive qualitative research ( K = 7) (Özlük & Bikmaz, 2021; Ruveyde & Bulut, 2022; Safiri et al, 2022; Savas et al, 2022; Shali et al, 2022; Topdemir et al, 2022; Zhang et al, 2021) were the primary methodological approaches employed. Data collection methods included semi‐structured interviews ( K = 16) (Chun et al, 2021; Dou et al, 2021; He et al, 2021; Jiang et al, 2022; Khaled et al, 2022; Luo et al, 2022; Moyo et al, 2022; Özlük & Bikmaz, 2021; Ruveyde & Bulut, 2022; Safiri et al, 2022; Savas et al, 2022; Shali et al, 2022; Siagian & Rantung, 2022; Simeone et al, 2022; Topdemir et al, 2022; Zhang et al, 2021), individual interviews ( K = 1) (Piredda et al, 2022), and focus group interviews ( K = 1) (Piredda et al, 2022), with many conducted remotely due to pandemic restrictions. Various data analysis methods were used, such as content analysis ( K = 5) (Dou et al, 2021; Özlük & Bikmaz, 2021; Safiri et al, 2022; Savas et al, 2022; Shali et al, 2022), thematic analysis ( K = 4) (Khaled et al, 2022; Ruveyde & Bulut, 2022; Topdemir et al, 2022; Zhang et al, 2021), and Colaizzi's Seven‐step analysis ( K = 4) (Chun et al, 2021; Jiang et al, 2022; Luo et al, 2022; Siagian & Rantung, 2022).…”

“…Data collection methods included semi‐structured interviews ( K = 16) (Chun et al, 2021; Dou et al, 2021; He et al, 2021; Jiang et al, 2022; Khaled et al, 2022; Luo et al, 2022; Moyo et al, 2022; Özlük & Bikmaz, 2021; Ruveyde & Bulut, 2022; Safiri et al, 2022; Savas et al, 2022; Shali et al, 2022; Siagian & Rantung, 2022; Simeone et al, 2022; Topdemir et al, 2022; Zhang et al, 2021), individual interviews ( K = 1) (Piredda et al, 2022), and focus group interviews ( K = 1) (Piredda et al, 2022), with many conducted remotely due to pandemic restrictions. Various data analysis methods were used, such as content analysis ( K = 5) (Dou et al, 2021; Özlük & Bikmaz, 2021; Safiri et al, 2022; Savas et al, 2022; Shali et al, 2022), thematic analysis ( K = 4) (Khaled et al, 2022; Ruveyde & Bulut, 2022; Topdemir et al, 2022; Zhang et al, 2021), and Colaizzi's Seven‐step analysis ( K = 4) (Chun et al, 2021; Jiang et al, 2022; Luo et al, 2022; Siagian & Rantung, 2022).…”

The Registered Nurses amid COVID‐19 in Saudi Arabia: A descriptive phenomenological study

“…Furthermore, nurses need to be able to mask their anxiety with an air of confidence and professionalism in order to make it through a shift. First, making sure you are safe so you do not end up a statistic (Aydin & Bulut, 2022 ).…”

Social Networking Security during COVID-19: A Systematic Literature Review

“…In all emergency cases, SNS proves helpful to cope with the situation. According to top researches [29][30][31], SNS helps its users to cope in Covid-19 pandemic situation, as lockdown in many countries limited the access of doctors. In that situation, SNS proves helpful to communicate with consultants to take precautionary measures.…”