Emotional impact on nurses working directly with COVID-19 patients

Abstract

Introduction: in the current pandemic context, the World Health Organization has identified healthcare staff as a group especially vulnerable to developing a greater number of physical and mental problems arising from working directly or indirectly with patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Objective: to explore the emotional impact of COVID-19 on nurses caring for people with this disease. Methodology: a phenomenological qualitative study on the narratives of nurses who directly provided care to patients diagnosed with COVID-19 in different care settings of the Aragonese Health Service. Data collection was carried out through a conversational methodology, by means of in-depth interviews, recording, transcription and subsequent analysis. Data saturation was reached after interviewing 18 participants. Results: the data analysis revealed 15 categories, such as frustration, incomprehension, anger, uncertainty, stress, responsibility, suffering, powerlessness, exhaustion, fear, guilt, emotional shock, fulfilment/recognition, coping strategies and emerging needs. Conclusions: the nurses’ narratives, on specific aspects of their care practice with COVID-19 patients, revealed a significant emotional impact, as well as certain protective factors.