BMC Nursing (Mar 2025)
Exploring resilience in critical care nursing: a qualitative inquiry into continuous adaptation, collaborative unity, and emotional balance
Abstract
Abstract Background Resilience is essential for nurses in critical care, where they face high-stakes situations requiring continuous adaptation, collaborative unity, and emotional balance. This study aimed to investigate resilience in critical care nursing, focusing on how nurses adapt to challenges, the role of teamwork in fostering resilience, and strategies for maintaining emotional balance. Objective The objective of this study was to explore resilience among critical care nurses, emphasizing their adaptation to challenges, the influence of collaborative practices, and methods for sustaining emotional well-being in intensive care units. Methods A qualitative study with a thematic analysis approach was used in this study. The study was conducted in five intensive care units across two hospitals in Egypt. The purposeful sampling approach includes 17 critical care nurses with diverse experiences. Data was collected through in-depth semi-structured interviews using an interview guide focusing on challenges, adaptation strategies, collaborative practices, and coping mechanisms. Results Themes emerge, depicting resilience as a dynamic process encompassing continuous adaptation, learning, collaborative unity, emotional balance, self-care, and reflection on experiences. Nurses emphasize the importance of teamwork, interprofessional collaboration, and managing emotional complexities. Resilience is portrayed as a collective force within the critical care team, balancing compassion and clinical precision. Conclusion Critical care nurses demonstrate resilience as a multifaceted and dynamic process. The study provides insights into the collaborative strategies employed and the emotional aspects of resilience. Acknowledging vulnerabilities and prioritizing self-care are integral to sustaining resilience.
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