Exploring Nurses' Working Experiences during the First Wave of COVID-19 Outbreak

Area of Science:

• Nursing
• Healthcare Management
• Pandemic Response

Background:

• The COVID-19 pandemic created unprecedented challenges for healthcare professionals globally.
• Nurses in clinical settings faced excessive workloads, increased stress, and role ambiguity.
• Understanding the specific experiences of nurses in non-critical care units is crucial for support and future preparedness.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the experiences of Greek hospital nurses in non-COVID units during the first wave of the pandemic.
• To identify the key challenges and coping mechanisms employed by these nurses.

Main Methods:

• Descriptive qualitative research design.
• Content analysis approach applied to data.
• Purposive sampling strategy used for participant recruitment (n=10).
• Data collected through semi-structured interviews.

Main Results:

• Three main themes emerged: emotional burden, professional commitment, and abrupt changes.
• Nurses reported significant emotional burdens, fear, and uncertainty due to organizational changes.
• Despite challenges, professional commitment remained high, leading to thorough and accurate nursing care.

Conclusions:

• Organizational changes and emotional distress significantly impacted nurses and patient care.
• Professional commitment was a key factor in maintaining high standards of care.
• The pandemic, while burdensome, offered opportunities for enhanced thoroughness and accuracy in nursing practice.