Experiences of nurses working with COVID‐19 patients: A qualitative study

Abstract

Background:The global COVID-19 pandemic has led to massive disruptions in daily life, business, education, lifestyle and economies worldwide. Nurses are a professional group who care directly for COVID-19 patients and thus face direct exposure to the virus. The nurses who work on the front lines during this period put their own well-being at risk to care for these patients.Purpose/Aim: The aim of this study was to identify the experiences and challenges faced by nurses working in pandemic clinics in Turkey during the COVID-19 pandemic.Methods: This qualitative study was based on semi-structured in-depth interviews conducted through the mobile application Whatsapp with 19 nurses who were actively working in pandemic clinics. Due to the pandemic, the snowball sampling method was used to reach the sample group. Interviews were continued until data saturation was achieved. All interviews were audio recorded and later transcribed.The study data were interpreted according to themes identified using thematic analysis. Throughout the study, the authors followed the COREQ checklist. Results:The experiences of nurses caring for COVID-19 patients were summarised into five major themes: psychosocial adaptation, protection, difficulty in care and treatment, access to information and working conditions. Conclusion:Nurses caring for COVID-19 patients in Turkey have been affected psychologically, socially and physiologically. They experienced stigmatisation, exhaustion and burnout. One of the biggest challenges for the nurses was difficulty providing physical care and treatment due to the use of personal protective equipment. Nurses want improved compensation in addition to applause from the public. Interventions to help bolster nurses' psychological and physiological strength are recommended. Relevance to clinical practice:This study emphasised nurses' psychologically, socially and physiologically affected. Therefore, improvements in financial and moral support would provide psychological reinforcement for nurses during the epidemic. Informing the public is necessary to reduce the stigmatisation of nurses working in pandemic clinics.

Resilience among health care workers while working during a pandemic: A systematic review and meta synthesis of qualitative studies

“…Support from colleagues was the main source of support referred to by HCWs and was likened to a “healthcare family” ( Akkus, Karacan, Guney, & Kurt, 2022 ).…”

“…This sub-theme also included managing media exposure, as information reported may become overwhelming and can increase anxiety. Indeed where disinformation regarding COVID-19 emerged through media channels, HCWs responded by posting accurate, scientific information such as “donning PPE” and guidance on how to wear the equipment ( Akkus et al, 2022 ). Social connections with colleagues, loved ones, formal supports and the wider community that are maintained while physical distancing, supports a sense of being in this together while managing adversity.…”

Experience and views of nurses on nursing services and personal protective equipment in Covid‐19 pandemic the case of Turkey: A cross‐sectional study

“…Nurses who have been fighting devotedly on the front lines since the beginning of the pandemic also need to protect themselves. Despite this, it has been reported that nurses have serious problems in accessing PPE against the risk of becoming infected (Akkus et al, 2021 ; Cengiz et al, 2021 ; Fernandez et al, 2020 ). In our study, similar to the literature, it was found that institutions were not sufficiently able to provide PPE, and it was determined that almost more than half of the nurses had problems with accessing PPE.…”

“…The organization efforts of health professionals, who are in an important position in achieving success during the pandemic—namely, reorganization of health professionals in intensive care units and inpatient rooms—have been left to health institutions (Ardebili et al, 2020 ; Liu et al, 2020 ; Stucky et al, 2020 ). However, proceedings all over the world and in Turkey during the COVID‐19 pandemic have shown that there are shortages especially in quality and quantity to meet the increasing demand in the supply of health workers and necessary personal protective equipment (PPE) (Akkus et al, 2021 ; Cengiz et al, 2021 ; Kackin et al, 2021 ).…”

Professional Governance in a Time of Crisis

“…During the pandemic, it became clear that nurses live, lead, and breathe at the intersections of the health service system. [10][11][12] Nurses have managed many fissures in the critical response to COVID, including the need for preservation of personal protective equipment (PPE), necessary because, often, the nurse was the most or only consistent clinician at the patient's side. As the pandemic evolves, it has become unquestioningly apparent that the centrality of healthcare delivery is nursing.…”