Work Experiences of Front-Line Nurses in Field Hospitals during the Pandemic in Thailand

Objective: This qualitative descriptive study explored the work experiences of front-line nurses in field hospitals during the pandemic in the three southern border provinces of Thailand.Materials and Methods: Fifteen front-line nurses in field hospitals located in the three southern border provinces of Thailand were recruited using purposive and snowball sampling strategies. In-depth, virtual face-to-face, semi-structured interviews were conducted. Data were analyzed using thematic analysis.Results: Two domains emerged: (1) positive work experience and (2) negative work experience. Five themes were identified: (1) making sense of professional identity and pride, (2) new knowledge and skills, (3) better recognition and rewards, (4) health and safety concerns, and (5) emotional impacts. The results of this study indicate that front-line nurses working in the field hospitals were both positively and negatively affected by experiencing the pandemic. Although working during the pandemic could generate negative emotions, the informants reported more positive impacts, especially rewards, than negative impacts.Conclusion: Key strategies to mitigate negative impacts on frontline nurses during outbreaks include providing financial and non-financial rewards, implementing orientation programs and training on the proper use of personal protective equipment to enhance job efficiency, and developing protocols to prevent harmful exposure.