Background: Because of the COVID‐19 pandemic, health care systems worldwide are working under challenging conditions. Patients, who are seriously ill, require intensive care admission. In fighting COVID‐19, nurses are frontline health care workers and, as such, have a great responsibility providing needed specialized patient care in intensive care units (ICU). However, working conditions and emotional factors have an impact on the quality of the care provided.Aim: The purpose of the present study was to explore and describe the experiences and perceptions of nurses working in an ICU during the COVID‐19 global pandemic.Study design: Qualitative research was undertaken, using an empirical approach and inductive content analysis techniques.Methods: The selected population consisted of ICU nurses from a tertiary teaching hospital in Spain. Data were obtained via semi‐structured videocall interviews from Apr 12th to Apr 30th, 2020. Subsequently, transcribed verbatims were analysed using the template analysis model of Brooks.Findings: A total of 17 nurses comprised the final sample after data saturation. Four main themes emerged from the analysis and 13 subthemes: “providing nursing care,” “psychosocial aspects and emotional lability,” “resources management and safety” and “professional relationships and fellowship.”Conclusion: Providing health care by intensive care nursing professionals, during the COVID‐19 pandemic, has shown both strong and weak points in the health care system. Nursing care has been influenced by fear and isolation, making it hard to maintain the humanization of the health care.Relevance to clinical practice: Implications for practice include optimizing resource management (human and material), providing psychological support, and adequate training for ICU nurses, as well as high‐quality protocols for future emergency situations.

The global shortage of nurses who want to work in the intensive care unit (ICU) is alarming, putting at risk quality of care and patient safety. With efforts put into engagement strategies, optimized recruitment programmes are scarce, specifically in the ICU setting. The aim of this study is to describe and explore ICU nurses' opinions on their work motivational factors that influenced the decision to work in the ICU setting. A qualitative research was undertaken, with a descriptive exploratory interpretative approach, implementing a QUAL-QUAL design, where two data collection techniques are used simultaneously and complement each other. Experienced ICU nurses were interviewed by focus group, using in-depth interviews for novel nurses. A template content analysis as described by the model of Brooks was performed. The selected population was recruited from 6 different public hospitals in Spain. A total of 17 nurses participated in the study as we reached data saturation; seven in the focus group and ten by individual interviews. Four main themes emerged from the analysis divided into 13 subthemes: "ICU training and education", "taking care of the intensive carer", "optimized human resources management" and "intrinsic and extrinsic motivational factors". Nurses consider that an attractive ICU in terms of job satisfaction is the one that is committed to quality continuous training programmes, welcoming professionals with well-designed mentoring, and taking care of its workers by promoting teamwork and work-life balance, burnout syndrome prevention strategies and motivation for intellectual development. The description of how to create attractive ICUs will help to build strategies with the aim of recruiting talented highly qualified professionals who will alleviate the need for nurses in the field, optimizing the care provided and generating benefits in management and quality of care.

Expanding businesses was the main reason for the immigration of Chinese people in Spain, which consists the fifth largest nationality of immigrants in this country. Nevertheless, few studies have been carried out to understand the working conditions of this population. Using an ethnographic design, this study examined the work patterns and working conditions among Chinese immigrants living in southern Spain and how these factors affected their health. Observing participants, field notes, and semi-structured interviews with question script were conducted with 133 Chinese immigrants. Five main themes were defined: “Economic improvement as a migratory reason”, “Conception to Work”, “Labor Sector”, “Work conditions”, and “Occupational health”. Our results showed that Chinese immigrants worked in the provision of services, with long working hours and little rest. Although they had low rates of unemployment, the working conditions had an important impact on their dietary patterns and their family life. Ergonomic and psychosocial risks also explained high rates of musculoskeletal problems and stress. In conclusion, Chinese immigrants living in southern Spain work actively in the service sector of the economy, but with many work hours. These characteristics seem to impact their health at a physical, psychological, and social level.

Background: Chronic non-cancer pain (CNCP) is one of the major causes of disability globally, and patients who suffer from it are a complex population, which makes it difficult to provide effective care. Specialist pain clinics and nursing professionals in them are the main care providers, but there is little research conducted in this field. Aim: To explore the attitudes and knowledge of nurses working in specialist pain clinics regarding care of CNCP patients. Methods: Qualitative phenomenological approach. Sixteen semi-structured interviews were conducted in 2017 with nurses who worked in specialist pain clinics in six hospitals in southern Spain. Results: Data analysis led to the formation of two categories, ‘being trained and improving knowledge in CNCP’ and ‘the challenge of caring for patients with CNCP’, and five subcategories. Conclusion: The need for care in CNCP is not covered by nurses in all the areas it requires. Lack of time, staffing issues, and specific training in this area makes it difficult to provide care. However, some areas for improvement are proposed, such as psychological interventions, group workshops, continuous training, and multidisciplinary teams.