Experiences of neonatal intensive care nurses during the COVID-19 pandemic: a phenomenological study

Abstract

Objective: To understand the experiences of neonatal intensive care nurses during the COVID-19 pandemic in light of Patricia Benner’s phenomenology. Method: This is a phenomenological study based on Patricia Benner’s theoretical-methodological framework and Martin Heidegger’s existential philosophy, through a paradigmatic case that emerged from this experience, approved by the Ethics Committee under Protocol 4,665,149. Interviews were conducted between May and September 2021 with eight neonatal intensive care nurses. The hermeneutic analysis followed the phases as follows: thematic unity, search for similarities and differences, and identification of paradigmatic cases. Results: Two major themes emerged: “Meanings of care in the NICU” and “Coping with the pandemic”. The case of “nurse Lavanda” stood out for presenting a high level of concern for the other, evidencing phenomenological openness, becoming, and self-discovery. The experiences essentially revealed the counterpoint between tensions and the desire for humanized care beyond the limitations imposed by the pandemic, generating a re-signification of professional practice in a time of crisis. Conclusion: The phenomenon of concern for the other and being-with-others-in-the-NICU-world was unveiled, guiding the process of meaning-making with affection, commitment, and accountability. The pandemic intensified ethical and existential dilemmas, but also strengthened professional identity and the meaning of neonatal care.