Nutrition Practices of Intensive Care Unit Nurses During Infectious Disease Outbreaks: A Qualitative Study

BACKGROUND: Nutritional support is vital for critically ill patients, especially during infectious disease outbreaks. Intensive care unit (ICU) nurses, as frontline providers, face unique challenges in delivering effective nutritional care. This study explored ICU nurses' experiences in providing nutritional care to patients with infectious diseases in high-risk settings. METHOD: This study aimed to identify and describe the barriers, processes, and practical experiences associated with providing nutritional support to ICU patients during an infectious disease outbreak. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews and analyzed using content analysis. Trustworthiness was ensured through triangulation, peer debriefing, and member checking. RESULTS: Three themes emerged: Importance of Nutrition, Nutritional Challenges, and Nutritional Support Strategies. Nurses emphasized nutrition's contribution to immunity and clinical stability. Barriers included isolation protocols, feeding complications, workload, and resource limitations. CONCLUSION: ICU nurses play a critical role in sustaining nutritional care during infectious crises. Their experiences point to the need for stronger support systems and collaboration. Findings support incorporating outbreak-specific nutrition and emotional resilience training into continuing education to better prepare ICU nurses for future challenges.