Iranian Nurses’ Behavioral Changes during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Qualitative Study

Background: The large-scale spread of COVID-19 affected communities with many deaths worldwide causing significant concerns. Due to being on the front line of fighting against this disease, a great number of healthcare providers lost their lives. Accordingly, this study aimed to explore the changes in nurses’ behavior and practice while taking care of COVID-19 patients.Methods: The present study was conducted using a qualitative conventional content analysis approach in 2020-2021. The participants were 14 nurses taking care of COVID-19 patients in the infectious diseases wards of a teaching hospital affiliated with Kerman University of Medical Sciences. The data were collected through interviews with the nurses, and data collection continued until data saturation. The collected data were analyzed based on the steps proposed by Graneheim and Lundman. After recording and transcribing the interviews, the participants’ statements were categorized into semantic units. Data analysis was performed using MAXQDA-10 software.Results: The majority of nurses reported significant behavioral changes that were categorized into five main themes including intensification of protective measures and increase in concentration, emergence of mental and psychological symptoms, increase in the sense of responsibility towards the family, recourse to prayer and religious rituals, and increased empathy with patients.Conclusion: The most important behavioral changes of nurses as a result of the COVID-19 crisis were the intensification of personal protective measures, the emergence of mental and emotional symptoms, the increase in the sense of responsibility towards the family, resorting to prayer and religious rituals, and increased empathy with patients. Providing material and spiritual incentives as well as support to personnel to increase their motivation and work productivity should be taken into consideration by officials during epidemics. Moreover, actions such as providing free psychological counseling are suggested to calm the personnel.