Frontline nurses' experiences of working in a COVID-19 ward-A qualitative study

Aim: To explore how nurses experienced working in a newly organized COVID-19 ward with high-risk patients during a new and unknown pandemic. Design: A qualitative explorative study using a phenomenological-hermeneutic approach. Methods: Semi-structured individual telephone interviews were conducted in June-July 2020 with 23 nurses working in COVID-19 wards from three regional hospitals in Denmark. The nurses had been transferred from other departments at their hospital to the newly organized COVID-19 wards. Data analysis was influenced by Paul Ricoeur's theory of narrative and interpretation, including three analytical levels: naive reading, structural analysis and critical interpretation and discussion. Results: During the structural analysis four themes were generated: (a) Challenging and uncertain situation, but also a positive experience (b) Professional and personal development (c) Lack of nurses' rights during a pandemic (d) Reward in itself or a desire for financial reward.

Automated summary

This study aimed to explore nurses' experiences in a newly organized COVID-19 ward with high-risk patients during the pandemic. The nurses faced challenges and uncertainty but also found positive aspects in the experience, leading to professional and personal development. However, issues such as lack of nurses' rights during a pandemic and desire for financial reward were also identified.