Critical care nurses' experiences of caring challenges during post-resuscitation period: a conventional content analysis

Abstract

Abstract Background: Patients in the post-resuscitation period experience critical conditions and require high-quality care. Identifying the challenges that critical care nurses face in caring for resuscitated patients is paramount for improving the quality of care. Aim: This study aimed to identify the challenges faced by critical care nurses during the post-resuscitation period. Methods: A qualitative study was conducted through semi-structured interviews. Sixteen nurses working in the intensive care units of three teaching hospitals were selected using purposive sampling. Data were analyzed using conventional content analysis. Results: Participants experienced individual, interpersonal, and organizational challenges in providing post-resuscitation care. The most important challenges include inadequate clinical knowledge and experience, poor management and communication skills, lack of support from nurse managers, role ambiguity, risk of violence, and inappropriate attitudes of physicians regarding nurses’ roles. Moreover, nurses had a negative attitude towards resuscitated patients. Conclusions: Critical care nurses face several challenges in the post-resuscitation period. These challenges should be addressed through appropriate measures and strategies to improve the quality of post-resuscitation care. Relevance for clinical practice: In-service education, debriefing after resuscitation, promotion of inter-professional collaboration, and provision of support from nursing managers can be considered to improve the quality of post-resuscitation care and reduce challenges.