Lakjer, Sarah

Prip, Emma Margon

This paper examines the experiences of five nurses working at the Danish Covid-19 units. On March 11th, WHO declared the Covid-19 virus a pandemic, and on the same day Denmark went into lockdown. The virus spread through the country and put pressure on the unprepared health care system. This meant that nurses suddenly had to work under unknown conditions on intermediate units with untrained personnel, and a lack of safety equipment, in the battle against a virus that no one knew how to treat. This caused a highly stressed working environment for the nurses, who were still expected to perform the same professional care as always. To understand the pressure this caused the individual, we have interviewed five nurses from three different Danish Covid-19 units and analysed their experiences through the lens of Arlie R. Hochschild’s theory of Emotional Labor. Her theory explains how nurses are expected to manage their emotions at work to act professionally and rationally, and how this can affect the individual negatively. Thus, we have investigated which variables affect the nurses’ experiences with their work, and their ability to perform as expected in the pressurised situation. As a result of this, we conclude that through certain methods of acting, the nurses can adapt to the Feeling Rules that the societal expectations pose for them, but not without consequences for their wellbeing

The indispensable nurses during Covid-19 and their emotional challenges

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Roskilde Universitet