Experiences of intensive care nurses working with patients with COVID-19: A qualitative study in Turkey

Background & Aim: The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted healthcare systems. Nurses were deeply affected physically, psychologically, and socially. This study was conducted to examine the experiences and perceptions of intensive care nurses who provide care for patients with COVID-19 during the pandemic process. Methods & Materials: This qualitative study was conducted using the content analysis approach. This research was carried out with 11 nurses working in the intensive care unit and caring for COVID-19 patients between May and September 2021. A purposive sampling method was used to include nurses in the study. The data of the research were collected with an eight-question semi-structured interview form and in-depth interview technique. The data were analyzed by using the content analysis method. Results: The six main categories identified in this study were challenging working conditions, tiredness, isolation and loneliness, fear, and helplessness, lack of management support, and expectations and needs. Conclusion: This study has shown that intensive care nurses who care for COVID-19 patients in Turkey are greatly adversely affected physically, psychologically, and socially by the pandemic process. In this process, it is extremely important to improve the financial and moral support for nurses. Policymakers and managers should try to reduce the physical, psychological, and social impacts of the pandemic on nurses by focusing on their experience and taking appropriate action.