NURSES' EXPERIENCES IN CARING FOR COVID 19 PATIENTS

Abstract

Background: In the COVID pandemic era, nurses are required to have competence in caring for COVID patients in isolation rooms. Challenges invaluable services in carrying out treatment can occur due to limited references because there is still not much research related to COVID-19, little equipment and isolation rooms for treatment, and personal fears as a human being infected with this virus. Research still needs to be done to increase nurses' knowledge in caring for COVID-19 patients. Advanced knowledge of nurses in caring for COVID patients is expected to improve the quality of nursing services. Purpose: This study explores the experience of nurses in caring for COVID-19 patients at Referral Hospitals. Methods: The research design used was a phenomenological interpretive qualitative approach—in-depth interviews using semi-structured questions involving six nurses in the COVID-19 isolation room at the Lumajang Regency Hospital. Data were collected and analyzed using a thematic analysis approach based on Krueger, R., and Casey, M .. Results: the results of the interviews resulted in five major themes, namely Dedicated Themes as professional nurses, Providing Therapeutic Communication Touches, Modifying Interventions, Conducting Care with Human Principles and Improve the Health Belief of COVID-19 Sufferers. Conclusion: Treatment of COVID-19 patients requires professional knowledge and skills of nurses. Nurses need to encourage their ability to the maximum by exerting empathy, humanism, and critical thinking to provide holistic services to patients.