Abstract
This study aimed to qualitatively explore when psychiatric nurses feel rewarded for their work. A cross-sectional
questionnaire survey with an open-ended question was conducted on psychiatric nurses during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic in Japan from July to August 2021. Data from 143 participants were used for content analyses (valid response rate = 27.9%). Data were divided into 254 record units, generating 13 categories, including “when patients left the hospital due to support for discharge,” “when patients and families showed appreciation or positive feedback for nurses,” and “when nurses felt that they were needed and trusted by patients and family members. ” Among the 13 categories, 1 category seemed to be specific to psychiatric nursing, which is “when nurses found out that patients had an active life in the community after discharge.” Therefore, amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, psychiatric nurses can still feel rewarded, enabling them to maintain and improve their nursing motivation and vigorous work.
