Through the eyes of nurses: a content analysis of nurses’ experiences in caring for COVID-19 patients

Abstract

Background In the current global climate, the nursing staff has placed a significant emphasis on developing effective self-protection strategies and implementing measures to prevent the transmission of infectious diseases, with a particular focus on the highly communicable COVID-19 virus. Ensuring the safety and well-being of both healthcare providers and patients has made it imperative to incorporate this aspect into healthcare provision. Objective The study aimed to describe the experiences of nurses in providing care for patients infected with COVID-19. Methodology This qualitative content analysis study, following COREQ guidelines, involved 18 nurses who were taking care of COVID-19 patients at Shahid Mohamadi Hospital, a general hospital in Bandar Abbas, Hormozgan Province. The hospital is affiliated with Hormozgan University of Medical Sciences and the research was conducted in 2022.The sampling method was purposive, and unstructured interviews were used. Data collection continued until data saturation was achieved. Data analysis was performed continuously and concurrently through the collection of data using conventional content analysis methods. Findings The qualitative analysis of the data revealed three main themes centered on challenges related to nurses’ self-care, patient care, and the healthcare delivery system. Conclusion Overall, to address the challenges faced by healthcare providers caring for COVID-19 patients, their needs must be prioritized. This includes establishing a prepared healthcare system, implementing strategies to protect their well-being, and learning from their experiences for future disease outbreaks and disasters.

The Experience of Spanish Prison Nurses with the HIV Pandemic

“…While experiences, perceptions, and needs of nurses in specific hospital services have been studied [10], as well as nursing perspectives in other pandemics like the recent COVID-19 pandemic [11], there is limited or no literature on the HIV/AIDS pandemic in the unique setting of prisons. The Spanish print media, reflecting events throughout the different periods of this history, serves as another source referenced in this study to provide context.…”