Experiences, Difficulties, and Coping Methods of Burn Nurses: An Exploratory-Descriptive Qualitative Study

Abstract

Abstract Caring for burn patients is both physically and emotionally exhausting for nurses. Each nurse can experience different emotions and make different senses of these experiences. This study was conducted to determine the experiences of nurses who care for burn patients. The study conducted as an exploratory-descriptive qualitative study. Six nurses participated in the study who work in the burn units of a university hospital. Data were obtained by the semistructured face-to-face interviews. The transcription of audio records from interviews was performed, and these transcriptions were analyzed using the thematic analysis method. Codes and subthemes were extracted and the main themes were reached. These themes were gathered under two contexts and reported. Under the context of experience, the themes of “emotional challenge,” “physical difficulties,” and “psychological difficulties,” and nine subthemes were created. Under the context of coping, the themes of “coping methods” and “motivation” as well as eight subthemes, were created under these themes. It was found that nurses who provide care to burn patients face emotional and physical difficulties; however, they do not have effective coping methods and adequate support. The biggest source of support for nurses was again seen to be nurses. In line with these results, it is important that nurses experienced in burn care support junior nurses, nurses who work in such clinics are allowed to use coping mechanisms, and professional support should be provided to these nurses.