Background: The current COVID-19 global pandemic has had a profound impact on the health care system and on the physical and psychological well-being of nurses. Previous pandemics have led to nurses leaving the profession. Therefore, it is important that we hear the voices of nurses who experienced the pandemic on the frontlines to influence future planning and policy development.
Purpose: The purpose of this study was to explore frontline nurses' experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic through photos, narratives, and group discussions.
Methods: Twelve nurses in two groups shared their lived experiences through Photovoice, a participatory action approach. Photos and narratives were collected over five weeks per group. One group at the beginning of the pandemic and the other group six months later. Focus group discussions were held following each group.
Results: Five themes emerged from the photovoice data: (1) The work of nursing; (2) Miscommunication; (3) Fatigue; (4) Resilience; and (5) Hope for the future. Various subthemes were noted within each theme to delineate the lived experience of frontlines nurses working in the COVID-19 pandemic.
Conclusions: The voices of nurses and their experiences on the frontlines of the COVID-19 pandemic need to be considered in pandemic planning and integrated into health care policy, guidelines, and structural changes.
Keywords: COVID-19; Photovoice; lived-experience; nurses.