The Psychological Responses of Nurses Caring for COVID-19 Patients: A Q Methodological Approach

Cho, Kyung Hyeon; Kim, Boyoung

Anxiety among nurses attending patients at the forefront of the global coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) pandemic is on the rise. Accordingly, examining the psychological response of nurses who have attended COVID-19 patients is necessary. This study aimed to categorize and characterize the psychological responses of nurses who have experienced COVID-19 patient care based on the Q methodology. The Q-sample extracted 34 statements, and the P-sample marked 22 nurses who had operated a screening clinic and experienced patient care in the local base hospitals treating COVID-19 using convenience sampling. The findings suggest that nurses who have experienced COVID-19 patient care fall into three categories based on the following psychological responses: (1) fear of social stigma, (2) anxiety about the risk of infection, and (3) burden of infection prevention and control nursing. Therefore, it is expected that the results of this study may serve as the basis for emotional support programs that are capable of understanding and mediating the psychological state of nurses who care for patients with COVID-19.