Explaining nurses' experience of stresses and coping mechanisms in coronavirus pandemic

Nurses face several stresses during a pandemic. Therefore, it seems necessary to use appropriate adaptation and coping methods to reduce the destructive effects of physical and psychological stresses. This study aimed to explain nurses' experience of stresses and coping methods used for care of patients with Covid-19.

A qualitative approach with descriptive phenomenological method was applied in this study. Sixteen nurses working in hospitals were selected by purposeful sampling. Through in-depth, individual and semi-structured interviews, the nurses shared their experiences in caring for Covid patients. The transcripts of recorded interviews were typed verbatim and then analyzed based on Colaizzi's method.

Four main categories and 12 subcategories, which were named conceptually based on their nature were shaped. The main categories included; self-support in the midst of crisis, sheltered by family from distance, hospital influence in the environment, and social support on both sides of infinity.

Although healthcare workers have accepted the exposure to Covid-19 as part of their profession, provision of quality care in crisis situations is not possible without supporting the healthcare workers and paying attention to their mental health. It is recommended to take a precise approach to predict, recognize and manage psychological harms of healthcare workers.