Experiences of Nurses Caring for Patients With COVID-19: A Descriptive Phenomenological Study

The current study aimed to explore the lived experiences of nurses providing care to patients with COVID-19.

A descriptive phenomenological approach.

The study was conducted among 9 purposively sampled nurses who worked in the COVID-19 isolation centers of Kumasi South Hospital and Manhyia District Hospital, Kumasi. With the assistance of a semi-structured interview guide and participants' consent, their lived experiences on caring for patients with COVID-19 were audio-recorded. The data were transcribed verbatim and inductively analysed into themes which described their experiences. The data were collected between the period of August and September 2021.

Participants comprised six females and three males; their ages ranged from 24 to 34 years. Participants had worked for 2-11 years in the profession and 4-15 months in the isolation unit. Three themes emerged from the data: 'care context,' 'covid effects,' and 'coping strategies.' 'Care context' referred to the working conditions in which the nurses provided care for the isolated patients. 'Covid effects' described the physical, psychological, and socio-economic effects of the pandemic on the nurses and care provision. Participants also narrated their 'coping strategies' which were used in managing the care-giving challenges posed by the pandemic.

The study calls for the prioritisation of the well-being and support of nurses working in isolation units, ensuring adequate resources, training, and protective measures to maintain their physical and psychological health. This will directly impact the care given to patients in such isolation units currently and in the future.