Factors inhibiting adaptation to nursing care, the neglected loop in the mental health of intensive care unit nurses: A qualitative study

BACKGROUND: As intensive care unit (ICU) nurses mainly care for critically ill patients, they face many professional challenges, including communicating with patients and working with various devices. Therefore, they need to adapt to the existing conditions, thereby providing high-quality care. Explaining factors inhibiting adaptation to nursing care among ICU nurses. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This is a qualitative study conducted using a conventional content analysis approach in a health center affiliated to Shahroud University of Medical Sciences, Iran. This hospital was equipped with an air ambulance and four ICUs and was also considered as the regional trauma center in the Northeast of Iran. Data were collected using semi-structured face-to-face interviews (from January 2020 to April 2021) and then analyzed using Graneheim and Lundman's (2004) qualitative content analysis method. RESULTS: It was shown that factors inhibiting adaptation to nursing care among ICU nurses consist of three main categories including “personal barriers to adaptation”, “dominant management”, and “educational concerns”. CONCLUSION: To adapt more and as a result to improve the mental health of nurses, it is important to know the barriers to adaptation. Efficient management, paying attention to nurses’ issues, and practical training constitute key elements affecting the adaptation to critical nursing care. Therefore, it is necessary to take measures to ensure adaptation in this group of health workers. Thus, an environmental approach of health promotion has social experience and organizational development.