Explaining the psychological experiences of nurses during the first peak COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract

Introduction: The unexpected spread of COVID-19 with high risk of transmission, fear and anxiety, and a load of negative emotions followed for nurses. It is necessary to assess the psychological experiences of nurses during the first peak COVID-19 pandemic.

Materials and Methods: In this qualitative study, with the approach of conventional content analysis approach, the participants were selected through proposed-based sampling and snowball from the COVID-19 centers of Guilan province in March 2020. The number of 20 participants with various demographic characteristics (Gender, age ...) entered the study. The tools used were in-depth and semi-structured interviews.

Results: Most of the participants were women, married and nurses.  Six categories were obtained: not perception, worries, and pretending, horrible observations, pre-psychological symptoms and psychological symptoms.

Conclusion: Psychological experiences of nurses in  COVID-19 center in Guilan were expressed in a range of not perceptions and worry until the appearance of numerous pre and psychological symptoms. The psychological needs of this group must be considered at all stages of the crisis. Psychological support by mental health workers should be considered in line with the development of the crisis to reduce the stress on nurses.