Sexuality and self-concept of morbidly obese women who are sexually attracted to men after bariatric surgery: a phenomenological study.

BACKGROUND: Morbid Obesity (MO) is a public health problem that affects a person's physical, psychological and sexual well-being. Women with MO are affected by their body image and self-concept, and obesity stigma may affect women in social and sexual relationships. OBJECTIVE: To describe and understand the experiences of morbidly obese heterosexual women (who are sexually attracted to men) in relation to their body image and sexuality after bariatric surgery. METHODOLOGY: Qualitative study using Merleau-Ponty's hermeneutic phenomenology as a philosophical framework. Data collection took place between 2020 and 2021 in a southern Spanish province. A total of 22 in-depth interviews were conducted using open-ended questions until data saturation was reached. RESULTS: Two main themes were identified: (1) "Escaping from a cruel environment": weight loss to increase self-esteem; with the sub-themes: 'I love myself now', and 'Body image and social relationships; a vicious circle; (2) "Now, I am truly me": accepting my body to reclaim my sexuality, with the sub-themes: 'The body as the focal point of sexuality', and 'When regaining your sex drive reignites your sex life and relationship'. CONCLUSION: Weight loss and body acceptance radically change morbidly obese women's sex lives after bariatric surgery. They rediscover their bodies, have increased self-esteem, and see improvements in their social relationships and sexuality. These women feel seen, loved and desired, and now value their body image and femininity. As they go through continuous improvements following bariatric surgery, they gradually regain self-esteem, acceptance of their bodies and control over their sex life. Even though the women's partners benefit from these improvements, they seem to be afraid of being left.

Obesity is a problem that affects women's physical, psychological and sexual well-being, as well as their social relationships. It is important to explore and understand the experiences of heterosexual women regarding their body and sexuality. After other treatments, women undergo surgery to reduce their obesity. After bariatric surgery women feel happier about themselves, experience less stigma and progressively recover their social and sex lives.

"Who Takes Care of Carers?": Experiences of Intensive Care Unit Nurses in the Acute Phase of the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic caused an international health emergency situation where nursing took on a fundamental role. The high number of patients in hospital ICUs led to a shift in nurses' working conditions and workload. Objective: The objective of this study was to describe the experiences of nurses who worked in ICUs during the acute phase of the COVID-19 pandemic. Methodology: A qualitative, descriptive study was carried out, with the participation of 21 nurses who worked in the ICU during the pandemic. Data collection took place between May and July 2021 through 21 in-depth interviews. Results: Three main themes emerged: (1) COVID-19 in ICUs: nurses on the frontline. (2) United against adversity: teamwork. (3) New optics of critical care and the nursing profession. COVID-19 was perceived with harshness, and the lack of knowledge about the virus generated confusion, anxiety and fear due to the risk of transmission to family members and relatives. The pandemic marked a shift in the management of human, material and economic resources. Novice nurses learned critical care at an accelerated pace, with significant physical and psychological strain. Expert nurses carried the burden of training new nurses. Although there were tense situations, experiencing these adverse situations as a team led to feelings of increased belonging, togetherness and professional bonding for nurses. While the participants noted an increase in motivation to continue in their profession, they also had a feeling of not having been cared for as they deserve by healthcare institutions.

Insights from a Qualitative Exploration of Adolescents' Opinions on Sex Education.

BACKGROUND: Adolescence is a crucial time in the development of young people's identity, and sexuality is a key issue. Comprehensive sex education provides the knowledge and skills to help adolescents protect their sexual and reproductive health and rights. Policies on sex education in secondary schools are highly influential in the development of quality programmes that support comprehensive sex education. The aim of this study was to explore, describe and understand adolescents' experiences of sex education. METHODS: A qualitative study based on Gadamer's phenomenology was used. Two focus groups and four in-depth interviews were conducted with 12 private school students, followed by inductive data analysis using ATLAS.ti software 9.0. RESULTS: Two main themes were identified in the analysis: (1) sex education is a challenge for secondary schools and (2) student expectations of sex education. CONCLUSION: It is essential for adolescents to have access to comprehensive sex education that is adapted to the different stages of their development, is provided by specialised teachers, and involves their families in the process.

Factors Influencing Sexuality in Late Adolescence: A Qualitative Study on Heterosexual Adolescents' Perspectives.

(1) Background: Sexuality is influenced by the school, family, and social contexts. All of these play a crucial role in promoting adolescents' sexual health and well-being. However, little is known about the factors that have an impact on sexuality in late adolescence. The aim of this study was to explore and describe the perspectives of late adolescents on the factors that influence their sexual lives. (2) Methods: A qualitative study with a descriptive design was carried out. Thirteen interviews were conducted. Data were audio-recorded, transcribed, and categorized into themes and subthemes. (3) Results: The results of our study offer support for the importance of sexual aspects in the lives of late adolescents who identify as heterosexual. (4) Conclusions: The most influential environments in late adolescent sexuality are the social, family, school, and peer contexts.

Young Women's Attitudes and Concerns Regarding Pornography and Their Sexual Experiences: A Qualitative Approach.

This study explores female university students' attitudes toward and concerns about pornography, based on their experience watching it and on sexual encounters with men. It used a qualitative descriptive design. Individual semi-structured interviews were conducted with 22 participants between March and April 2020. Thematic data analysis was performed using COREQ reporting guidelines. Three themes emerged from the data: (1) the sexual learning process, (2) the role of pornography in women's sexuality, and (3) sexual experiences. Participants reported how they learned about sexuality and how pornography influenced sexual experiences. Self-esteem issues and societal norms regarding hair removal and difficulty saying "no" to unwanted or humiliating sexual practices were found. The young women were not comfortable with women's representations in mainstream pornography. They blamed pornography for negative sexual experiences and claimed it influenced them and young men. Participants usually assumed submissive roles during sex and permitted aggressive sexual behaviors. The study reveals valuable information on how young women learn about sex and their difficulty in refusing unwanted sexual activities and even aggressive practices. Sexual education programs should include assertiveness training to improve sexual health, consent, and well-being.

Sexuality in Women with Fibromyalgia Syndrome: A Metasynthesis of Qualitative Studies.

Fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) is a nonarticular rheumatic syndrome which presents as chronic musculoskeletal pain, stiffness and body aches. FMS affects approximately 2.5% of the population, mostly women. FMS causes physical and psychological problems and reduces quality of life. The objective of this study is to identify qualitative evidence about experiences of women diagnosed with FMS about their sexuality. METHODS: Metasynthesis of qualitative studies. The search included articles published between 2000 and June 2023 on the PubMed, WOS, CINAHL, SCOPUS, and SCIELO databases. RESULTS: 450 articles were found through the initial search, of which, only nine fulfilled the criteria and were included in the thematic synthesis. From this analysis, three main themes emerged: (1) "I want to, but I can't": FMS causes a shift in feminine sexuality. (2) Resetting sex life and intimacy. (3) Taking charge of a "new sexuality." CONCLUSIONS: Women with FMS suffer from limitations of their sexuality that affect their partner. Pain, stiffness and a loss of desire make sexual encounters difficult. Becoming aware of this and striving not to lose their sexuality is key to coping with this problem. Women and their sexual partners can change roles and encourage communication, games, foreplay or touching. The use of lubricants, physical exercise and complementary therapies, along with social, professional and partner support, are key to coping with FMS.

Experiences of Healthcare Providers Who Provide Emergency Care to Migrant Children Who Arriving in Spain by Small Boats (Patera): A Qualitative Study.

BACKGROUND: The phenomenon of migration from regions with more limited resources is a reality of the globalized world. It is estimated that at the end of 2019, almost 80 million migrants were displaced around the world, with 46% of them being children. Almost 20% of the irregular immigrants who arrived in Spain were child irregular migrants, who travelled alone or accompanied by family members after leaving their countries of origin seeking, to find a better future. Child irregular migrants have specific healthcare needs. The objectives of our present study were to describe and understand the experiences of healthcare providers in relation to the healthcare needs and the process of emergency care for child irregular migrants who come to Spain in small vessels. METHODS: In this descriptive qualitative study, two focus groups were convened, and in-depth interviews with 21 participants were conducted, followed by inductive data analysis using ATLAS.ti 9.3 software. RESULTS: Three main themes emerged from the analysis: (1) more vulnerable groups for whom the priority is emergency care; (2) the health and social care of child migrants; and (3) challenges and advances in the care of child migrants. CONCLUSIONS: For healthcare providers, protecting children, placing value on the family unit, and ensuring that children feel safe at all times are very important. Learning about the experiences of healthcare providers can contribute towards improving the health and social care of children in emergency care.

Sexual and Reproductive Health Care for Irregular Migrant Women: A Meta-Synthesis of Qualitative Data.

Migratory movements are a political, social, and public health issue on a global scale. Access to sexual and reproductive health services for irregular migrant women (IMW) is a public health issue. The aim of this study is to identify qualitative evidence of IMW's experiences of sexual and reproductive health care in emergency and primary care settings. The methods employed involve conducting a meta-synthesis of qualitative studies. Synthesis includes assembling and categorising findings based on similarity in meaning. The search was conducted between January 2010 and June 2022 using PubMed, WOS, CINAHL, SCOPUS, and SCIELO databases. Out of the initial pool of 142 articles identified, only 9 fulfilled the predetermined criteria and were subsequently included in the review. Four main themes were established: (1) the need to focus emergency care on sexual and reproductive health; (2) unsatisfactory clinical experiences; (3) forced reproduction; and (4) alternating between formal and informal healthcare services. The attitudes of IMW towards sexual and reproductive health are influenced by culture, educational level, fear, barriers, and the attitude of healthcare providers. Healthcare institutions need to be aware of the IMW's experiences to understand the specific difficulties they face. IMW calls for socially and culturally sensitive health care, cultural mediators, improved communication, and safe environments that ensure confidentiality.

Experiences in the training of specialist family and community nurses: a qualitative study.

Introduction: The specialist Family and Community Nurse Practitioner (FCNP) is a professional who, after a period of training, is qualified to be part of multidisciplinary teams in primary care. The aim of this study was to describe and understand the experiences of nurses during their training process in the specialty of Family and Community Nursing in Spain. Methods: A descriptive qualitative study was carried out. Participants were recruited by means of convenience sampling from January to April 2022. Sixteen specialist nurses in Family and Community Nursing from different autonomous communities in Spain participated in the study. Twelve individual interviews and one focus group were conducted. Data were analyzed following a thematic analysis method in ATLAS.ti 9. Results: The results showed two themes and six subthemes: (1) Residency period, more than a training: (a) Training during the residency period; (b) Specializing through a constant struggle; (c) Moderate optimism about the future of the specialty; and (2) A journey from illusion to disappointment: (a) Beginning of the residency: feeling special; (b) During the residency: between satisfaction and misunderstanding; (c) At the end of the residency: power and frustration. Conclusions: The residency period is important in the training and acquisition of competencies for the Family and Community Nurse Practitioner. Improvements are needed to ensure quality training during residency and to help give visibility to the specialty.

'I'm still a woman': A qualitative study on sexuality in heterosexual women with Turner Syndrome.

AIM AND OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to describe and understand how heterosexual women with Turner Syndrome experience sexuality. BACKGROUND: Turner Syndrome is a genetic condition that is the result of one of the X chromosomes missing or partially missing, and it affects women of all ages. Turner Syndrome may lead to psychological, relational and sex life disorders. DESIGN: This is a qualitative study, and the COREQ checklist was employed to report on the current study. METHODS: The study was conducted in a region of southern Spain. Convenience and snowball sampling were used to recruit 18 women, aged 22-51 years, who had been diagnosed with Turner Syndrome. Participants' experiences were explored through semi-structured interviews between January and May 2021. Thematic analysis was used for data analysis. RESULTS: Three main themes and eight sub-themes emerge from the data analysis: (1) Sexuality linked to corporeality, with the sub-themes: 'Discovering that your body is different', 'Social stigma limits one's sex life' and 'Fear of penetration surpresses sexual desire'. (2) Adapting one's sexuality to Turner Syndrome, with the sub-themes: 'Feeling like a woman' and 'Suffering from and adapting to comorbidities'. (3) When infertility overshadows sexuality, with the sub-themes: 'Prolonging childhood by ignoring sexuality', 'Fertility treatment: always a possibility' and 'Lack of specialised professional knowledge'. CONCLUSION: Heterosexual women with Turner Syndrome suffer from sexual problems, delayed diagnosis and treatment, and lack of information. Unawareness and relational problems may also lead to scarce and late sexual relations, jealousy and a fear of being left. The women with Turner Syndrome refer to little self-exploration or masturbation as well as a fear of penetration. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: Understanding the experiences of sexuality in heterosexual women with Turner Syndrome is a challenge for clinical nurses, who could provide quality care to these women in contextualised services.

Irregular migrants' experiences of health disparities while living in informal settlements during the COVID-19 pandemic.

AIMS: The objective of this study was to describe and understand irregular migrants' (IMs') experiences of health disparities while living in informal settlements (ISs) during the COVID-19 pandemic. DESIGN: Qualitative descriptive study. METHODS: Thirty-four IMs originating from different African countries living in ISs took part in this study. Data were collected between January and March 2022 through three focus groups and 17 in-depth interviews. Thematic analysis was used to analyse qualitative data with ATLAS.ti computer software. RESULTS: Three main themes emerged: (1) Extreme vulnerability: ISs and abuse; (2) Inequality in health treatment has increased during COVID-19; and (3) The impact of COVID-19 on the health of IMs: help from non-governmental organizations and nurses. CONCLUSION: Irregular migrants are at a higher risk of exposure to COVID-19 due to their precarious living conditions, administrative situation and access to the health system. It is recommended that specific programmes be strengthened to improve health care for this population. IMPACT: What problem did the study address? This study examines IMs' experiences of health disparities during the COVID-19 pandemic. What were the main findings? IMs are at higher risk of exposure to COVID-19 due to social, health, housing and work inequalities. Community health nurses alongside non-governmental organizations have facilitated the implementation of measures to protect this population against COVID-19. Where and on whom will the research have an impact? With the aim of improving care for IMs, strategies have been suggested for health institutions to address problems relating to accessing the health system, and to promote networking between non-governmental organizations and community health nurses.

Ethical conflicts among physicians and nurses during the COVID-19 pandemic: A qualitative study.

RATIONALE, AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: The healthcare system and professionals working in the sector have experienced a high caseload during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. This has increased the potential for morally harmful events that violate professionals' moral codes and values. The aim of this study was to understand and explore experiences of new moral challenges emerging among physicians and nurses caring for individuals during the COVID-19 pandemic. METHOD: The consolidated criteria for reporting qualitative research (COREQ) checklist was used in this qualitative study based on Gadamer's phenomenology. Participants were selected using a convenience sampling method. Thirteen medicine and nursing graduates were interviewed in depth. The participants all worked on the frontline at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Data were gathered in two basic healthcare districts in Spain, encompassing both primary care and hospital care. RESULTS: Four main themes emerged from the data analysis: (1) Betrayal of moral and ethical values as a key source of suffering; (2) Ethical and moral sense of failure accompanying loss of meaning; (3) Lack of confidence in performance; (4) Self-demand and self-punishment as personal condemnation among healthcare workers. CONCLUSIONS: Health institutions must implement interventions for health professionals to help mitigate the consequences of experiencing complex ethical scenarios during the pandemic. In addition, they should promote training in moral and ethical deliberation and prepare them to make decisions of great ethical significance.

Patients' experiences and perceptions of dignity in end-of-life care in emergency departments: A qualitative study.

AIMS: To explore and understand the experiences of patients with advanced illness in relation to dignity during end-of-life care in emergency departments. DESIGN: Qualitative study based on Gadamer's hermeneutics. METHODS: Between September 2019 and February 2020, 16 in-depth interviews were carried out with advanced illness patients who attended emergency departments. The participants were informed priorly and signed informed consent. The data were analysed using an inductive strategy for finding emerging themes. The Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Research was used for writing the study's report. RESULTS: In the data analysis process, two main themes emerged that glean the experiences of patients in relation to dignity during end-of-life care in emergency departments. 'Dignity as an individual's attribute' and 'Acting with dignity: Dignity as a behavioural attribute'. CONCLUSION: Patient dignity in end-of-life care is centred around the principle of control (of oneself, one's death and one's emotions). The strategies required for patients to preserve their dignity can be somewhat incompatible with the dynamics and objectives of healthcare professionals who work in emergency departments. IMPACT STATEMENT: The dignity of patients with advanced illness who attend emergency departments is a relevant issue that merits being addressed from the patients' perspective. Participants have identified that dignity is a way of being and behaving in the face of illness. Emergency departments need to respect end-of-life patients' desires by supporting and accompanying them, avoiding therapeutic obstinacy. We recommend care to be centred on patients' well-being, to respect their autonomy and decision-making processes, and to allow prompt referrals to palliative care services. PATIENT OR PUBLIC CONTRIBUTION: Managers from the Emergency Departments participated in the study design and patients' recruitment. Patients' relatives were informed about the study's aim, and they contributed to the development of the interview protocol.

Development and Psychometric Assessment of a Questionnaire for the Detection of Invisible Violence against Women.

BACKGROUND: Invisible violence against women (IVAW) can be understood as the set of attitudes, behaviors, and subtle beliefs that men use to subordinate women and that are culturally accepted. These behaviors can be a risk factor for intimate partner violence (IPV), so it is important to design tools that allow us to detect it early. The aim of this study was to design and psychometrically assess a questionnaire for the detection of invisible violence against women (Q-IVAW). METHODOLOGY: A descriptive cross-sectional methodological study carried out in three phases: (1) development of the initial version; (2) pilot study (N = 51); and (3) final validation study (N = 990). The tool's reliability, validity, and legibility were assessed. To assess reliability, the internal consistency (Cronbach's α) was analyzed. The validity assessment included an analysis of content, criterion, and construct validity. RESULTS: The EFA revealed that the Q-IVAW was comprised of five factors that explained 55.85% of the total variance found. The Q-IVAW showed very high reliability (α = 0.937), excellent content validity, and good construct validity. The criterion validity analysis showed a moderate correlation between A-IPVAW and Q-IVAW (r = 0.30; p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: The psychometric assessment of the Q-IVAW yielded good results, which could support the tool's ability to assess how often women are subjected to inviable violent behaviors by their partners.

The effect of home visit simulation on emotional intelligence, self-efficacy, empowerment, and stress in nursing students. A single group pre-post intervention study.

BACKGROUND: Clinical simulation, the teaching methodology used in the Nursing Degree, helps students to acquire certain skills. Home visiting is a complex scenario in community care that requires certain critical skills in order to function successfully. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to analyze the improvement of self-efficacy, empowerment, management of emotions and perceived stress of nursing students through clinical simulation during home visits. DESIGN: A quasi-experimental study was carried out. PARTICIPANTS: A sample of Students of the 2nd year of the Nursing Degree. METHODS: A high-fidelity simulation programme was implemented in two sessions. The variables that were measured were: self-efficacy (General Self-efficacy Scale), empowerment (Spreitzer Psychological Empowerment Scale), emotional intelligence (Trait Meta-Mood Scale-24), and perceived stress (Perceived Stress Scale). RESULTS: 170 students with a mean age of 22.2 years took part. An increase in general self-efficacy, self-determination, impact, empowerment (total score), and emotional clarity was observed after the intervention. CONCLUSIONS: Clinical simulation as a teaching methodology allows the development of skills and competencies that are necessary for nursing students to be able to function in community settings such as home care. Therefore, this teaching methodology should be integrated into University Community Nursing training programmes.

Influential Factors of Breastfeeding after Assisted Reproduction: A Spanish Cohort.

The impact of assisted reproduction techniques (ART) when starting to breastfeed is an important issue that has been sparsely addressed in scientific literature and yet has contradictory results. This study aims to determine the relation between the mode of fertilization and breastfeeding by means of a retrospective longitudinal cohort study that included newborns and mothers who gave birth between 2012 and 2019 in a third-level regional hospital. Data were collected from a total of 11,285 women and newborns, of which 302 (2.6%) used ART. Logistic regression was used to establish models that determine the administration of exclusive breastfeeding (BF). Among the 1208 analyzed participants, 30% conceived using fertility treatment. In this group of participants, BF was less prevalent, both in the delivery room (25.8% versus 45.5%; p < 0.001) and when discharged from hospital (42.1% versus 57.9%; p < 0.001). Healthy newborns and BF in the delivery room were predictors of BF when discharged. On the other hand, the use of ART, an Apgar score lower than 7 at birth, the use of an epidural and a premature or underweight baby are considered negative predictors of exclusive BF when discharged. It is necessary to offer greater support for all mothers regarding BF, especially those who have conceived through ART, even more so in those cases that involve an epidural and/or caesarean section, starting throughout the dilation process.

Milk Donation Following a Perinatal Loss: A Phenomenological Study.

INTRODUCTION: Perinatal loss is a traumatic event for women with negative consequences for their well-being and mental health. After perinatal loss, some women choose to not suppress lactation and to donate their breast milk. Donating milk can be a grief ritual to cope with the loss. The aim of this study was to explore women's experiences of donating their breast milk following a perinatal loss. METHODS: A hermeneutic phenomenology was carried out. Thirteen semistructured interviews were conducted. Data was recorded, transcribed, and categorized into themes and subthemes. RESULTS: Two main themes emerged from the data: (1) lactation after loss: a forgotten aspect of the care, with the subthemes "the silence surrounding grieving lactation" and "experiencing lactation amidst a sea of tears"; and (2) milk donation: a resource to alleviate pain and offer hope, with the subthemes "expressing and donating breast milk: a healing ritual" and "breaking the taboo of the grieving lactation." DISCUSSION: Information about lactation options is not typically included in participants' care plan. Women's experiences highlight the need for the support of health care professionals. Donating milk helps some women to cope with the loss and accept and integrate it into their daily lives. Milk donation is also an opportunity to educate society about options following a perinatal loss.

A serious game for online-based objective structured clinical examination in nursing: A qualitative study.

BACKGROUND: The current pandemic has led to unprecedented scenarios worldwide. In this context, educational institutions had to move abruptly from in-person to online classes, having to be flexible and innovative, one of the main concerns being the semester-end examinations in practical modules. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to explore nursing students' perceptions of the use of a serious game-like model in their final online objective structured clinical examination (OSCE). DESIGN: An exploratory phenomenological study was conducted during the COVID-19 pandemic, in particular during June 2020. SETTINGS: This study took place at the University of Almeria with nursing students enrolled in a clinical placement module. PARTICIPANTS: Eighty-nine fourth-year nursing students took part in this study. METHODS: Following the educational principles of the OSCE, a virtual OSCE was designed, using the Genially platform, an online platform for creating interactive content, to set up an assessment as a story-telling game-like model. A total of 5 focus groups (FGs) were conducted afterwards via the GoogleMeet platform. In addition, 30 semi-structured interviews were performed via the same platform. The data was analysed using a content analysis approach and supported by the ATLAS.ti 8.4 software. RESULTS: Our finding revealed 2 main themes and 4 sub-themes. The two main themes were (i) generating emotions and feelings in times of virtuality; including emotions and feelings experienced by students during their online assessment process, and (ii) online assessment: a potential alternative to educational barriers; describing the variability of traditional modality, its implications for learning and the acquisition of competences. CONCLUSIONS: Serious game-like models, such as the story-telling game proposed, as part of their online OSCE assessment appear to be an appropriate alternative assessment method for face-to-face approaches. This paper adds new evidence on the use of innovative and state-of-art resources as part of nursing OSCE assessments in a new reality for most students and teachers. Serious game-like models in online OSCE may empower students and help them to remove perceived barriers in face-to-face assessments.

Experiences of Home Care Nurses During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic has provoked several changes in home care. Understanding home care nurses' experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic plays an essential role in home care management. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to explore and articulate the experience of home care nurses during the COVID-19 pandemic in Spain. DESIGN: A qualitative study using hermeneutic phenomenology was carried out. Twenty home care nurses were interviewed by teleconference between January and March 2021. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed using qualitative data analysis software. RESULTS: Three main themes with five subthemes emerged from the data analysis: (a) "The effect of COVID-19 pandemic on home care," with the subtheme "the reorganization of home care nurses' competencies"; (b) "The role of telehealth in home care," which included the subthemes "home care nurses' satisfaction with telehealth" and "barriers to implement telehealth in home care"; and (c) "Effects of the pandemic on home care nurses' lives," including the subthemes "working in a pandemic is emotionally draining" and "the continuing fear of infecting others." DISCUSSION: The findings from this study demonstrate the profound effect that home care has experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic. Home care nurses' competencies were modified to care for and diagnose COVID-19 patients. Face-to-face home care was replaced by telehealth. All home care nurses experienced physical and psychological symptoms and the fear of infecting others.