Nurses’ Experiences of Care for Patients in Coronavirus Disease 2019 Infection Wards during the Early Stages of the Pandemic

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to understand the experiences of nurses caring for Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients in infection wards dedicated to COVID-19 through an in-depth exploration of the patient experience and meaning of care. Methods: This study is a qualitative study analyzed by conventional content analysis. The study participants were 14 nurses who took direct care of COVID-19 patients in the early stages of the pandemic at a dedicated COVID-19 ward. The data were collected from July 4 to August 30, 2020, using face-to-face interviews. Results: The analysis 6 categories: ‘struggling to prepare an infection ward’, ‘fear and anxiety about infection’, ‘the weight of pressure from patient care’, ‘efforts to protect patients’, ‘maturity of professional identity as a nurse’, and ‘a quarantine community that we create together’. Conclusion: These study findings promote a broader understanding of nursing barriers, to patient care during an initial outbreak of a novel infectious disease, based on nurses' experiences with COVID-19 patients, and consequently, improve the quality of care received by such patients. Finally, nursing leaders, health policymakers, and governments should utilize these findings to inform practical strategies for nursing practice in current or future pandemics © 2022. Korean Society of Adult Nursing