Experiences of nurses in pre-hospital extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation: a descriptive phenomenological study

Abstract Pre-hospital extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation (ECPR) requires coordinated work under severe time and environmental constraints, yet nurses' lived experiences remain poorly understood. We explored how nurses experience this work, the challenges they encounter, and the support they consider necessary.We conducted a single-center descriptive phenomenological study in China. Purposive sampling recruited 14 emergency nurses and seven extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) specialist nurses. Data from face-to-face semi-structured interviews were analyzed using Colaizzi's seven-step phenomenological method.The 21 participants included 11 men and 10 women, with a mean age of 32.2 years (range 24-49). Three interrelated themes captured the experience: dual emotional experiences, challenges in the treatment process, and demands for improving treatment quality. Both professional groups contributed to all themes, while describing role-related emphases in scene-based emergency work and ECMO activation, equipment, and transport.The findings show how emotional strain, technical and organizational constraints, and perceived support needs intersect in one Chinese pre-hospital ECPR program. They support locally adapted training, team protocols, communication support, and staff well-being measures, while requiring cautious transfer to other settings.