Nurses' experience of work stress related to COVID‐19 regular prevention and control in China: A qualitative study

Abstract

AimTo explore the experiences of nurses' work stress related to COVID‐19 regular epidemic prevention and control in China.BackgroundThe global COVID‐19 epidemic is still severe, and China's ongoing regular epidemic prevention and control still cannot be relaxed, which places demands on nurses.MethodsThirty nurses and eight nurse managers were interviewed using semistructured in‐depth interviews, and the data were analysed by the Colaizzi seven‐step analysis method.ResultsFour themes were extracted as follows: environmental factors, organizational factors, personal factors and positive factors in coping with stress.ConclusionsNursing managers should pay attention to construction of the first‐line departments of regular epidemic prevention and control. The shortage of nurses' human resources and the increase of nurse–patient conflicts are problems that need to be solved urgently. In addition, this research also emphasizes the importance of promoting nurses' stress‐related growth and thinking about the possibility of reform.Implications for Nursing ManagementThe construction of the hospital environment and increasing the resilience of nursing teams require attention. We should attach importance to the training of nurses' communication skills and provide sufficient organizational support and economic guarantees for nurses. Finally, perhaps we should also consider whether it is necessary to reform the relevant hospital systems and how to reform them.