Experiences of professional nurses in paediatric wards during COVID-19 pandemic, North West province

COVID-19 itself is a mild disease in children, although its indirect effects lead to disruptions in the provision of paediatric health care services. Measures to curb the spread of COVID-19 infection resulted in restrictions to routine healthcare access. The lockdown restrictions that were implemented led to a decline in childhood immunisations and admissions that later increased professional nurses’ workload in paediatric wards. The study aimed to develop a deeper understanding of the experiences of professional nurses in paediatric wards of North West province during the COVID-19 pandemic. Descriptive, exploratory and contextual design was used in the study. A qualitative method was used. A total of 11 professional nurses working in the paediatric wards of the North West province were purposively selected to participate in the study. In-depth individual interviews were conducted. Ethical considerations were considered. Data was analysed using the Colaizzi method. Three themes emerged from the findings of the study namely, COVID-19 pandemic challenges in paediatric wards, professional nurses developed resilience during COVID-19 pandemic and professional nurses encountered a lack of human and material resources. The findings show that professional nurses worked in difficult situations during the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite these challenges, they developed resilience and other coping strategies. This article recommends contingency plans for future pandemics and support for professional nurses working in paediatric wards to prevent burnout.