"It Was Never Enough": The Meaning of Nurses' Experiences Caring for Patients during the COVID-19 Pandemic.

This study's aim was to understand nurses' caring experiences during the recent pandemic in the United States. Using an interpretive phenomenological approach, 15 participants provided the meaning of the care they provided. Five major themes were interpreted: If not us, then who?; Accepting uncertainty; It was never enough; Finding self and our voices in a new role; and Believing it was worth it. The study results have implications for psychiatric-mental health nurse clinicians as they identify and meet the needs of individuals of this vulnerable group. Research that uncovers the meaning of the caring experiences of front line nurses can illuminate the discipline's current understanding of this phenomena.

A Phenomenological Study of Nurse Managers' and Assistant Nurse Managers' Experiences during the COVID-19 Pandemic in the United States.

AIM: To understand the experiences of hospital nurse managers and assistant nurse managers during the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States. BACKGROUND: Little research has been published about the experiences of nurse managers during the COVID-19 pandemic. Experiences of front-line nurses have been well documented. This is the first phenomenological study to date in the United States on experiences of hospital nurse managers during the COVID-19 pandemic. DESIGN: Phenomenological qualitative approach. METHODS: Thirteen managers, seven nurse managers and six assistant nurse managers were interviewed about their experiences using audio-video teleconferencing and a semi-structured interview guide. Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Research criteria for reporting qualitative research were used. RESULTS: The four major themes that emerged were as follows: being there for everyone; leadership challenges; struggles, support and coping; and strengthening my role. There were 11 subthemes. CONCLUSIONS: A major focus of nurse managers during the pandemic was psychosocial support of front-line nurses while at the same time experiencing stress and exhaustion themselves. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING MANAGEMENT: More attention on the psychosocial needs of nurse managers, interventions to allay their exhaustion and provisions for readily available support are warranted.