Burnout Experienced by Infection Control Nurses During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Background:We explored the experiences of infection control nurses with burnout during the COVID-19 pandemic.Methods: A qualitative phenomenological approach was employed to gain an in-depth understanding of infection control nurses' experiences and perspectives.One-on-one, in-depth interviews were conducted with nine nurses who had worked in infection control teams for more than one year.Data were analyzed using Colaizzi's phenomenological method.Results: Six thematic categories emerged from these participants' narratives: "burden as an infection control nurse", "burden of being an infection control nurse", "environmental factors contributing to work overload", "uncertainty surrounding emerging infectious diseases", "conflicts with colleagues and other departments", "frustration due to inadequate compensation", and conflicts arising from guideline enforcement. Conclusion:This study revealed an urgent need to establish supportive systems to address burnout by comprehensively understanding nurses' experiences.This need has been exacerbated by the increased reliance on infection control nurses during the COVID-19 pandemic.