The meaning of the nursing care in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract

Introduction: The infectious outbreak caused by the new coronavirus strain has caused a pandemic with severe health and social consequences, which make us think changes should be made in the current meanings there are nowadays with respect to nursing care. Objective: Explore the meaning of care that has the nursing professional before the SARS-CoV2 pandemic, in a COVID hospital in the city of Puebla, Mexico. Methodology: A qualitative-descriptive study was developed based on the interpretative phenomenological perspective. The size of the sample was determined up to reach the saturation point. Deep interviews were carried out which were recorded and transcribed in their entirety. A content analysis was carried out where emerging issues were identified. The interpretation of the information was made using the Colaizzi method. Results: A meaning of nursing care was found, which is understood as a responsibility addressed to the family, patient, and oneself, where two types of care emerged, namely, complex care and protection care, within an environment of uncertainty, but, parting from fear facing, the result is learning and more experience. Conclusions: Nursing care during the pandemic is shown as a value that emerges from a consciousness status, to meet the obligation that it has with the others and the other, where its role in society is reconfigured.