[Nurses' Experiences of the COVID-19 Crisis]

Area of Science:

• Nursing
• Crisis Theory
• Qualitative Research

Background:

• The COVID-19 pandemic presented unprecedented challenges for healthcare systems globally.
• Hospital nurses faced unique stressors and ethical dilemmas during the crisis.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a situation-specific theory explaining nurses' experiences during the COVID-19 crisis.
• To understand the coping mechanisms and theoretical underpinnings of nurses' crisis experiences.

Main Methods:

• Grounded theory approach using Corbin and Strauss's method.
• In-depth individual interviews with 16 hospital nurses.
• Data collected between September 2020 and January 2021.

Main Results:

• Identified 38 concepts and 13 categories, with a core category of 'becoming a pioneering nurse'.
• Causal conditions included pandemic chaos, fear, and moral distress; contextual conditions involved scapegoating and uncertainty.
• Central phenomenon: 'suffering alone' amidst the 'COVID-19 hero' image; strategies included finding breakthroughs and mental adjustment.

Conclusions:

• Established a foundation for a situation-specific theory on nurses' COVID-19 crisis experiences.
• Defined the crisis as perceived by nurses caring for COVID-19 patients.
• Suggested various coping strategies for managing crisis situations.