Psychiatric nurses’ perceptions and experiences working in a psychiatric institution during the COVID-19 pandemic in Gauteng Province, South Africa

This study reveals that South Africa's psychiatric nurses faced the COVID-19 crisis from a position of vulnerability. The findings highlight how pre-existing burdens, such as poor infrastructure, a lack of equipment, and staff shortages in the South African healthcare system, were amplified during the COVID-19 pandemic, placing pressure on psychiatric nurses.