THE LIVED EXPERIENCES OF NURSES COPING WITH PSYCHOEMOTIONAL EXHAUSTION IN A NEUROCRITICAL CARE - ACUTE STROKE UNIT: A QUALITATIVE STUDY

Nurses working in neurocritical care units (NCUs) are constantly exposed to life-threatening conditions such as stroke, traumatic brain injury, and post-neurosurgical complications which demand technical competence, emotional labor, and resilience. This study aimed to explore the lived experiences of nurses in managing emotional fatigue that identifies their coping mechanisms, examined personal strategies and support systems perceived as effective, analyzed the implications of emotional exhaustion on well-being and patient care, and also proposed a practical output to support their resilience. A qualitative phenomenological design was employed that involves eight (8) registered nurses (P1–P8) from NCUs who participated in semi-structured interviews. Data were thematically analyzed four major themes: (1) The lived experiences of nurses in the NCU managing emotional fatigue; (2) Coping with psychoemotional exhaustion in high-stress environments; (3) Personal strategies perceived as effective in managing stress; and (4) Implications of emotional exhaustion on well-being and patient care and despite these challenges, coping mechanisms and supportive teamwork allowed nurses to sustain resilience. Based on these findings, the study proposed the Neurocritical Care Nurse Resilience Program (NCNRP) which was an intervention integrating structured psychological support, wellness initiatives, and team-based resilience-building activities. Nevertheless, this output addressed both individual and institutional needs that aimed to safeguard nurse well-being and enhance compassionate patient care. Thus, the study addressed that resilience in critical care nursing was not individual but collective that requires a balance of personal coping, peer support, and institutional commitment.