Aim: To explore the experiences of healthcare workers (HCWs) following occupational exposure to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) during the early stage of the pandemic.
Design: A Husserl descriptive phenomenological study design was employed.
Methods: Convenient and snowball sampling was used. In-depth semi-structured telephone interviews were conducted from February to March 2020 with the frontline HCWs who were exposed to COVID-19 during work. Data analysis was conducted following the 7-step analysis method developed by Colaizzi.
Results: Fifteen HCWs participated in the study. Four themes were identified, including (1) traumatic experiences since the occupational exposure; (2) getting through the hard time; (3) struggling to return to work; (4) reflections on occupational exposures.
Conclusion: The HCWs had traumatic and painful experiences after the occupational exposure. But they returned to work with strong resilience, professional obligation and social support. Training and supervision, and adequate supply of personal protective equipment are suggested to prevent professional exposure. Social and organizational support should be provided for the exposed HCWs.
Keywords: COVID-19; healthcare workers; life experience; occupational exposure; qualitative research.
© 2023 The Authors. Nursing Open published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.