Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing

Research Paper

Nurses’ Experiences of the COVID-19 Crisis: Lee, Jung-Hoon , Song, Yeoungsuk; J Korean Acad Nurs 2021;51(6):689-702. Published online December 31, 2021; DOI: https://doi.org/10.4040/jkan.21160

Purpose
This study aimed to develop a situation-specific theory to explain nurses’ experiences of the COVID-19 crisis.
Methods
The participants were 16 hospital nurses who experienced the COVID-19 crisis. Data were collected through in-depth individual interviews from September 2, 2020 to January 20, 2021. Transcribed interview contents were analyzed using Corbin and Strauss’s grounded theory method.
Results
A total of 38 concepts and 13 categories were identified through an open coding process. The core category found was becoming a pioneering nurse who turns crises into opportunities. The causal conditions were the chaos of being exposed defenselessly to an unexpected pandemic, fear caused by a nursing care field reminiscent of a battlefield, and moral distress from failing to protect patients’ human dignity. The contextual conditions were feeling like the scapegoat of the hospital organization, increasing uncertainty due to the unpredictable state of COVID-19, and relative deprivation due to inappropriate treatment. The central phenomenon was suffering alone while experiencing the dedication of the COVID-19 hero image. The action/interactional strategy were efforts to find a breakthrough and getting the nurse’s mind right, and the intervening conditions were gratitude for those who care for broken hearts and getting used to myself with repetitive work. The Consequences were becoming an independent nurse and frustration with the unchanging reality.
Conclusion
This study provides the foundation for the nurse's situation-specific theory of the COVID-19 crisis by defining the crisis perceived by nurses who cared for COVID-19 patients and suggesting types of coping with the crisis.

Citations

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Letter to the Editor

How Should We Approach Nurse Suicide in Korea: With the Aspect of Prevention-InterventionPostvention Management: Kim, Hyoung Suk , Bae, Hyun Ji , Kang, Kyeong Hwa; J Korean Acad Nurs 2021;51(4):408-413. Published online August 31, 2021; DOI: https://doi.org/10.4040/jkan.21171

Abstract PDF

Recently, nurse suicide has emerged as one of the major issues. We tried to review the status of nurse suicide and its management in Korea through inspecting related web sites, news articles, and research. However, there were no sufficient reports or statistics along with the research throughout the country. Moreover, there were no organized nurse suicide management systems or programs including suicide prevention, suicide intervention, suicide postvention management. In other countries, there were various trials and successful experiences about nurse suicide programs, and those have been managed in organized and integrated ways. It gave us a lot of implications. To effectively prevent and manage the nurse suicide in Korea, nursing workforce, nursing managers, and nursing researchers should be concerned about nurse suicide. Furthermore, discussions and the research must be made actively. Based on such efforts, appropriate programs, organized manage systems, and policies must be devised at institution and national level.

Citations

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