Narratives from a pandemic - critical care nurses' experiences of the first wave of COVID-19

Background: When COVID-19 became a global pandemic, critical care nurses were in the frontline. Because the disease was unknown, nurses had to change their routines and usual care. To get insight into the nurses' experiences, we asked them to tell their COVID-19 story. Aim: To describe the intensive care unit nurses' experiences of care during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: Twelve intensive care nurses were interviewed. Data was analysed using a Ricoeur-inspired approach; quotes were compiled across data with a first-person narrative. Findings: Six themes emerged which gave an insight into the nurses' experiences of nursing care during COVID-19. Conclusion: Findings show that the pandemic affected the nurses' professional assessment in several aspects. Because the nurses were worried about being infected or transmitting the virus to their families, they had to use their professional assessment in relation to their private lives to ensure optimal infection prevention.