Experiences of the Nurses who have had Covid-19

Abstract

This study explored the lived experiences of nurses who had COVID-19 and survived the illness, with particular attention to caring and uncaring encounters, self-image, survivorship, and implications for nursing administration. Guided by Paterson and Zderad's Humanistic Nursing Theory and phenomenological nursology, the study used a qualitative phenomenological approach involving eight registered nurses employed in selected government hospitals in Quezon City. Co-researchers were purposively recruited through referral and snowballing techniques. Narratives were gathered through informal interviews, storytelling, and reflective resonance; interview sessions lasted approximately 30-60 minutes and were conducted in multiple encounters. The narratives were transcribed verbatim and interpreted using the five phases of phenomenological nursology. Trustworthiness was supported through method triangulation, audit trailing, participant validation, journaling, and bracketing. Caring encounters generated four themes: Caring as Going Out of Their Way, Caring as Pillars of Hope, Caring as an Ultimate Sacrifice, and a transformative fourth theme described in the thesis as a Life-Changing Journey and, in the discussion, as Becoming an Empath. Uncaring encounters generated three themes: Experiences of Stigma-Inducing Situations, Experiencing Moments of Meaninglessness, and Feeling the Burden of the Unknown. Across these experiences, nurses described fear, stigma, uncertainty, sacrifice, family support, empathy, bravery, flexibility, resilience, and continued commitment to patient care. The study concluded that the transition from care provider to care recipient deepened the participants' appreciation of person-centered caring and highlighted the need for organizational, psychological, material, and administrative support for nurses during health emergencies.