Vulnerability, loss, and coping experiences of health care workers and first responders during the covid-19 pandemic: a qualitative study

Abstract

INTRODUCTION. The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic substantially affects health care workers from multiple disciplines, including nurses, physicians, therapists, and first responders. The aims of this study were to 1) explore and describe the experiences of health care workers and first responders working with individuals with COVID-19 infection, and 2) identify the support and strategies that were helpful during their experience.METHODS. A qualitative descriptive study was conducted via online video interviews of 29 health care workers and first responders who agreed to be contacted for an interview. Thematic analysis resulted in three themes and corresponding subthemes.RESULTS. The three overriding themes were 1) experiencing vulnerability, 2) suffering loss and grief, and 3) coping with vulnerability. A sense of vulnerability and high levels of stress were described and affected participants during their professional work as health care workers and first responders as well as their roles in their homes and communities.DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION. The findings indicate the need for effective measures to assist health care workers and first responders to minimize the negative consequences of persistent and severe stress and vulnerability as they care for individuals with COVID-19 and their families.

An uncertain time: Clinical nurses' first impressions during the COVID‐19 pandemic

“…This resulted in anger as well as disappointment among nurses. These findings are similar to those reported by Bennett et al ( 2020 ), Moradi et al ( 2021 ), and Smeltzer et al ( 2022 ). The psychological toll from caring for patients during the pandemic was characterized by feelings of anxiety, distress, sadness, grief, and fear (Mental Health America, 2021 ).…”

“…Some study participants were socially isolated by members of their communities who looked upon healthcare workers with disdain, further increasing their stress and anxiety (Hooper, 2021 ). Similar responses were reported by Robinson and Stinson ( 2021 ), Gordon et al ( 2021 ), and Smeltzer et al ( 2022 ), all of whom indicated that nurses in their studies wanted to educate the public and individuals in the community who failed to understand the severity of the pandemic.…”

Home care nurses’ perception of the challenges they faced during the COVID-19 pandemic: a qualitative study

“…Fatigue also caused negligence in safety measures to control infection, which significantly reduced patient care [ 31 ] and even threatened the patients’ as well as nurses’ health causing them to eventually contract the disease [ 27 ]. This finding also confirmed other studies’ results [ 26 , 27 ]. Based on these results, it seems that the physical and psychological distress inflicted on home care nurses during a pandemic must be regularly checked in order to prevent the consequences [ 32 ].…”

“…This support showed itself in titles such as “health care heroes” and “health care warriors” which were given to the health care staff. Unlike home care nurses in Iran, their counterparts in other countries [ 26 ] and in hospitals in Iran [ 27 ] didn’t discontinue their jobs at the beginning and continued looking after patients into the pandemic. This study indicates that these nurses lacked adequate training and preparation to face a crisis; therefore, they stepped away from fulfilling their duties due to the fear of contracting the disease.…”

“…The Iranian culture highly values family bonds, which makes Iranian people more willing to take care of their family members at home [ 25 ]. However, families are not educated properly on home care and its requirements [ 26 ]. Another observation made by this study was the families’ undue interventions, their insistence on conducting some unscientific or traditional protective measures, which caused trouble for home care nurses.…”