Nurses as the leading fighters during the COVID-19 pandemic: Self-transcendence

Intensive care nurses caring for Covid-19 patients in Turkey experienced vulnerability from administrative loneliness, inability to provide adequate care, fear of becoming a source of infection, and the loneliness of patients. Their self-transcendence and well-being were supported by improvements in nursing roles and skills, pride in themselves and their team, a deeper understanding of the value of life, and feeling like superheroes due to the responsibilities they shouldered during the pandemic.

Study at a glance

Abstract

Background The Covid 19 pandemic has led to and continues to pose challenges for healthcare systems globally, especially in intensive care units. This research was conducted to examine the self-transcendence of the leading fighters, intensive care nurses, during the Covid 19 pandemic. Methods The descriptive phenomenological research method was used in the study. The research was carried out between June and December 2020 with the nurses who care for Covid 19 patients in the Covid 19 intensive care service in different provinces of Turkey. The research was completed with 25 participants. A semi-structured interview form prepared based on the Theory of Self-Transcendence (vulnerability, self-transcendence, and well-being) and based on the literature was used to collect data. Ethical considerations Ethical requirements were respected in every phase of the research process. Results: The nurses in the study were found to experience vulnerability due to “administrative loneliness,” “inability to give care,” “fear of being a source of infection,” and “loneliness of patients.” Conclusions It has been found that “improvement in nursing roles and skills,” “being proud for oneself and the team,” “understanding the value of life,” and “feeling like a superhero due to the responsibilities shouldered during the pandemic” support nurses’ self-transcendence, which contributes to physical and mental well-being.