Nursing Experiences Caring For COVID-19 Patients In A Dubai Government Hospital: A Qualitative Study”.

Abstract

Introduction: In January 2020, WHO declared COVID-19 to be a Public Health Emergency of International concern. The covid-19
pandemic is likely to place healthcare professionals across the world in an unprecedented situation, forcing the human to take
impossible decisions and work under extreme pressures. In addition to fear around COVID-19 exposure, anxieties related to shortages
of personal protective equipment (PPE) or other essential equipment and the challenges of family support and childcare while they
work irregular hours and higher workloads, coupled with anxiety, as they enter new or unfamiliar clinical roles.
Objective: To explore the experiences of nurses caring for COVID-19.
Methods: Using phenomenological analysis approach, a qualitative study was conducted using semi-structured interview of 15 nurses
working in COVID units of LWCH. Ethical approval obtained from DREC. The interviews were recorded and grouped into themes.
Results: Four themes emerged from data analysis. The first one is psychological feeling where many of them were anxious for first
time witnessing pandemic, stressful, uncertainty, constant fear, sadness etc. In the early stage, negative emotions were dominant and
positive emotions appeared gradually. ICU nurses were experiencing intense psychological and physical effects. Second category was
challenges where they were challenged by lack of experience, knowledge, use of PPE, heavy workload, fear of becoming infected and
infecting others etc. The third theme was coping strategies where they identified many sources of social support and self-management
strategies to cope with situation. The last theme was lifestyle changes where most of the nurses isolated themselves from other family
members, no socialization. They also expressed the change in attitude of the society towards nurses.
Discussion/Conclusion: The intensive work drained health-care providers physically and emotionally; therefore, comprehensive
support should be provided to safeguard the wellbeing of health-care providers and pre-induction training on working with infectious
diseases to be included in pandemic management programs.