Lived Experiences of Iranian Oncology Nurses on Missed Nursing Care During a Public Health Crisis: Causes and Emotional Consequences.

OBJECTIVES

The COVID-19 pandemic posed unprecedented challenges for health care systems worldwide, particularly for oncology nurses in Iran, who grappled with significant issues related to missed nursing care. These challenges have raised critical concerns regarding their professional roles and emotional health. This study aims to investigate the lived experiences of Iranian oncology nurses, emphasizing the emotional ramifications of missed nursing care and the underlying factors that contributed to this phenomenon during the pandemic.

METHODS

This research adopted a qualitative approach grounded in Heidegger's hermeneutic phenomenology. The study involved 12 oncology nurses employed in various departments across five public hospitals in Tehran and Tabriz. Data collection spans from February 2023 to December 2024, utilizing in-depth, semi-structured interviews to garner rich, qualitative insights. Interviews were conducted until data saturation was reached, ensuring a comprehensive understanding of the participants' experiences. The simultaneous analysis of the data follows the methodological framework established by Diekelmann et al. (1989).

RESULTS

Through a detailed phenomenological analysis of the interviews, four primary themes emerged, accompanied by sixteen subthemes: "Existential Fatigue," "Difficult Emotions," "Nurse Assumptions," and "Role Ambivalence." The first two themes illuminate the emotional distress experienced by nurses as a direct outcome of the challenges posed by missed nursing care. Conversely, the latter themes shed light on the factors contributing to these instances of missed care amid the pandemic's unique challenges.

CONCLUSION

Oncology nurses often grapple with intense emotional challenges as they strive to meet the demanding nature of their caregiving roles. This emotional strain can hinder their ability to fully connect with patients, leading to missed nursing opportunities that create a harmful cycle affecting both the well-being of the nurses and the outcomes for patients. This scenario highlights the deep link between emotional health and the quality of nursing practice. Additionally, biases and a sense of futility regarding certain interventions complicate their experiences, especially during crises, while the duality of their roles introduces conflicting expectations. This interplay underscores the complexities inherent in nursing, particularly in demanding situations.

IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING PRACTICE

These findings underscore the urgent necessity for comprehensive emotional health support and regular emotional assessments for oncology nurses to enhance their resilience. Creating a supportive and nurturing work environment, coupled with targeted training to address common nurse assumptions and clarify role expectations, is essential. Such measures are vital to improving nurse retention rates and ensuring high-quality patient care.