J Korean Acad Psychiatr Ment Health Nurs.  2021 Dec;30(4):379-389. 10.12934/jkpmhn.2021.30.4.379.

Korean Clinical Nurses’ Emotional Experiences during the COVID-19 Pandemic

• Kim DJ
• Cho MY

• KMID: 2523903
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.12934/jkpmhn.2021.30.4.379

Abstract

Purpose
The purpose of this study was to examine the emotions experienced by Korean clinical nurses during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and to understand their essential meaning in depth.
Methods
A qualitative study was performed using individual in-depth interviews and data were collected from 12 nurses in clinical practice from June 2020 to December 2020. Data were analyzed using the Colaizzi’s phenomenological method.
Results
The following three categories were derived: ‘shock of the unprecedented new infectious disease’, ‘hardships caused by the never-ending struggle’, and ‘hope in the midst of hardship’.
Conclusion
Based on the results of this study, it was confirmed that there is a need to prepare an appropriate compensation system and emotional support strategies for nurses in the traumatic event of a pandemic. In addition, it is necessary to develop a recovery from trauma and emotional management program to reduce the negative emotional experiences and strengthen the positive emotional experiences.

Keyword

COVID-19; Nurses; Emotions; Qualitative research; COVID-19, 간호사, 정서, 현상학적 연구