Journal of Education and Health Promotion

Challenges faced by nurses while caring for COVID‑19 patients: A qualitative study

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

. Marjan Vejdani 1
. Samira Foji 2
. Sara Jamili 1
. Raha Salehabadi 3
. Amin Adel 4
. Zahra Ebnehoseini 5
. Shapour Badiee Aval 6
. Ali Asghar Anjidani 7
. Hossein Ebrahimipour 7

1 Student Research Committee, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran

2 School of Nursing and Midwifery, Sabzevar University of Medical Sciences, Sabzevar, Iran

3 Iranian Research Center on Aging. University of Social Welfare and Rehablitation Sciences, Tehran, Iran

4 Health Management and Economics Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

5 Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran

6 Department of Complementary and Chinese Medicine, School of Persian and Complementary Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran

7 Social Determinants of Health Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran

Abstract
INTRODUCTION: In the COVID‑19 crisis, nurses are directly involved in patient care, so they face
many challenges. This study was performed to determine the challenges faced by nurses while
caring for COVID‑19 patients in Iran in 2020.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: This qualitative, content analysis was conducted in Iran on ten nurses
directly involved in the fight against the corona epidemic, selected through a purposeful sampling
strategy. Data were collected through deep interviews consisting of open questions. All the interviews
were recorded, and immediately after each interview, it was transcribed into written form. The data
were analyzed using MAXQDA software.
RESULTS: All the challenges could be classified into three main categories and 17 subcategories.
The main categories were miss‑management in controlling corona conditions, mental and physical
complications and challenges in corona work conditions, and lack of sufficient workforce.
CONCLUSION: Hospital managers and authorities play a significant role in meeting the financial
needs and requirements of nurses, and can minimize the job discrimination prevalent at medical
centers through providing financial and nonfinancial incentives for nurses. Moreover, the findings
of the present study can help hospital managers and authorities to gain a better understanding of
the experiences of nurses, and to take the necessary measures to obviate the challenges faced by
nurses in public health emergencies.

Keywords

COVID‑19
nurses
qualitative research
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Journal of Education and Health Promotion
Volume 11, Issue 10
November 2021
Pages 1-8

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