Attitudes and beliefs of nurses who choose to not vaccinate for COVID 19 in West Virginia: A qualitative study

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to describe beliefs and attitudes that underpin vaccine confidence and hesitancy in nurses who chose not to vaccinate for COVID-19. The research question that guided this work was: What are the beliefs and attitudes of nurses who chose to not vaccinate for COVID-19?

Methods

This study followed a focus group methodology to collect qualitative data from focused discussions to gather insights into the beliefs and attitudes of participants. Two focus groups consisting of 3 to 5 participants were conducted virtually.

Results

Using open coding, six themes were generated. Based on descriptors provided by participants, two themes were focused on beliefs, and four were related to attitudes about the vaccine. Findings suggest that participants' beliefs and attitudes were strengthened during this time in the pandemic. This event further divided nurses included in this study from their peers who chose to vaccinate and their employers who mandated inoculation.

Conclusions

Understanding the perceptions of this sample has given insight into the thoughts and feelings of nurses who chose not to vaccinate against COVID-19. This is a perspective that is often absent from scientific literature. Knowledge gained from this study may assist in supporting strategies such as open communication, conflict resolution, and collaboration in an effort to mitigate the divide within the nursing workforce, which may ultimately contribute to nursing retention in clinical settings.