Nurses' Journey Towards Recovery: Describing Suffering During the COVID-19 Pandemic to Present Day

• Published in: International journal of mental health nursing 2025-02, Vol.34 (1), p.e13495
• Main Authors: Powell, Melissa A, Walton, AnnMarie, Scott, Susan D, Allen, Deborah H, Oyesanya, Tolu O
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Burnout, Professional - prevention & control; Burnout, Professional - psychology; COVID-19 - nursing; COVID-19 - psychology; Female; Humans; Interviews as Topic; Male; Middle Aged; Pandemics; Qualitative Research
• ISSN: 1445-8330; 1447-0349; 1447-0349
• DOI: 10.1111/inm.13495

The nursing profession has been significantly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, and nurses continue to suffer emotionally and psychologically. The purpose of this study was to describe the experiences of chronic and ongoing occupational psychological trauma nurses have endured during the COVID-19 pandemic to present day. Eight nurses were interviewed between November 2022 and April 2023. Data were analysed utilising Hsieh and Shannon's conventional content analysis. Study findings are reported via the Standards for Reporting Qualitative Research guidelines. Four themes were identified: (1) organisational perils and pitfalls, (2) unstable professional and personal life, (3) an ongoing emotional and psychological battle and (4) restoration is possible. Nurses' descriptions of ongoing suffering encompassed organisational and individual factors. Organisational factors included increasing workloads and reduced staffing. Individual factors included nurses' concerns regarding mental health and well-being. Nurses expressed a desire for organisational efforts to prevent burnout through solutions that improve organisational and individual factors. Findings can inform the development and testing of interventions to support nurses and promote nurse well-being.