"Growth under pressure": The Experience of COVID-19 ICU Nurses - A Qualitative Study

Background: As an epidemic, COVID-19 has brought a new shock to the world's healthcare system. The crisis caused by this disease and the prolonged involvement of communities and healthcare systems have intensified the duties and psychological burden of nurses. The current study aimed to explain the experience of ICU nurses during the COVID-19 crisis. Materials and Methods: The present study was conducted using conventional content analysis in 2021. Twenty nurses of the COVID-19 ICU of Ahvaz hospitals were selected by purposive sampling. The main method of data collection was semistructured interview. The process of data analysis was done based on Granheim and Lundman's approach using MAXQDA-2020. For the scientific rigor of the findings, Guba and Lincoln's four criteria were abided by. The COREQ (Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Research) checklist was used to ensure the study met the recommended standards of qualitative data reporting. Results: After data analysis, 22 subcategories, eight categories, and one theme (growth under pressure) were extracted. The eight main categories included (psychological crisis, physical exhaustion, family conflicts, complex care, professional development, expertise, life enrichment, and full support). Conclusions: Despite the pressures that ICU nurses faced during the COVID-19 pandemic, they were able to grow by benefiting from positive experiences. These findings can lead to the development and implementation of effective interventions to improve adaptation strategies of nurses, especially those working in the intensive care unit, during the COVID-19 and other future crises.