Through the eyes of nurses: a content analysis of nurses’ experiences in caring for COVID-19 patients

BACKGROUND: In the current global climate, the nursing staff has placed a significant emphasis on developing effective self-protection strategies and implementing measures to prevent the transmission of infectious diseases, with a particular focus on the highly communicable COVID-19 virus. Ensuring the safety and well-being of both healthcare providers and patients has made it imperative to incorporate this aspect into healthcare provision. OBJECTIVE: The study aimed to describe the experiences of nurses in providing care for patients infected with COVID-19. METHODOLOGY: This qualitative content analysis study, following COREQ guidelines, involved 18 nurses who were taking care of COVID-19 patients at Shahid Mohamadi Hospital, a general hospital in Bandar Abbas, Hormozgan Province. The hospital is affiliated with Hormozgan University of Medical Sciences and the research was conducted in 2022.The sampling method was purposive, and unstructured interviews were used. Data collection continued until data saturation was achieved. Data analysis was performed continuously and concurrently through the collection of data using conventional content analysis methods. FINDINGS: The qualitative analysis of the data revealed three main themes centered on challenges related to nurses’ self-care, patient care, and the healthcare delivery system. CONCLUSION: Overall, to address the challenges faced by healthcare providers caring for COVID-19 patients, their needs must be prioritized. This includes establishing a prepared healthcare system, implementing strategies to protect their well-being, and learning from their experiences for future disease outbreaks and disasters. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12912-023-01601-5.