Journal of Contemporary Medicine (Mar 2022)
Perceptions of Intern Nurses Regarding the Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic: A Qualitative Study
Abstract
Aim: The COVID-19 pandemic has affected the individual and professional lives of all people, especially health professionals. For this reason, this study aimed to qualitatively determine the perceptions of intern nurses regarding the COVID-19 pandemic. Materials and Method: This phenomenological study was conducted with intern students receiving education at the final year of the nursing department of a state university in the Marmara Region of Turkey between November 1, 2020, and January 15, 2021. An in-depth face-to-face interview method was used in the study. In the interviews, four semi-structured interview questions developed by the researchers were asked to the participants; the answers were audio-recorded and the interviews were analyzed by the researchers. Main themes and sub-themes were generated with the codes obtained in the analysis. Results: As a result of the data analysis, three main themes, seven sub-themes, and twenty-four codes were determined for the perceptions of the participants regarding the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. It was determined that many factors affected intern nurses’ daily lives negatively and positively during the pandemic process and that participants resorted to some physical, psychological, and social methods to cope with the pandemic process. A group of intern nurses who performed clinical practice during the pandemic stated that this process had a positive effect on their individual development, their approach to patients, and their professional attitudes. Nevertheless, another group stated that their professional commitment decreased, that they felt worried and worthless, and that they avoided participating in the practices. Conclusion: It was determined that intern nurses, the closest group to the nursing profession, were affected by the pandemic process in many positive and negative aspects, that their professional perceptions changed due to their concerns about the current situation and future, and that they used different techniques that supported and restrained their development in coping with the process. Educational institutions are recommended to provide motivation, counseling, and psychological support programs in order for student nurses to be able to manage their concerns, negative affections, and changing professional perceptions.
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