A Qualitative Study on the Causes and Consequences of Nurses' Emotional Labor Behaviors in the Covid-19 Pandemic

Abstract

In this research, it is aimed to determine the factors that cause emotional labor behavior and the consequences of emotional labor behavior during the Covid-19 pandemic, by using the observations and experiences of nurses. For this purpose, phenomenology approach, one of the qualitative research designs, was used in the study. Maximum variation sampling technique, which is one of the purposeful sampling methods, was preferred in determining the participants of the study. In-depth interviews were conducted with 28 nurses total, using a semi-structured interview form to obtain the views of the participants. The interviews were coded using an interpretative phenomenological approach. As a result of the research, the factors that cause emotional labor behavior and the results of emotional labor behavior were determined by using the perceptions, evaluations and experiences of the nurses. According to the findings, it was understood that nurses, who took on important tasks during the difficult and tiring pandemic process, needed holistic support in order to work efficiently in healthier conditions. In addition, it can be stated that managers should adopt a supportive, understanding and open to communication process and nurses' emotional states should be supported so that they can display emotional labor behavior as deeply and even sincere behaviors. It can be stated that first of all, the emotional states of those who will exhibit the behavior should be supported. In addition, it is recommended that similar studies be conducted in different institutions with the participation of employees of similar qualifications who are actually working in the Covid-19 pandemic in order to understand the importance of emotional labor behaviors.

Keywords

• Emotional labor
• Nurses
• Covid-19 Pandemic
• Qualitative Study

Covid-19 Salgınında Hemşirelerin Duygusal Emek Davranışlarının Nedenleri ve Sonuçlarına Yönelik Nitel Bir Araştırma

Öz

Bu araştırmada, hemşirelerin gözlem ve deneyimlerinden yararlanarak Covid-19 salgın sürecinde duygusal emek davranışı sergilemeye neden olan unsurlar ve duygusal emek davranışı sergilemenin sonuçlarının belirlenmesi amaçlanmaktadır. Bu amaç doğrultusunda çalışmada nitel araştırma desenlerinden fenomenoloji yaklaşımı kullanılmıştır. Araştırmanın katılımcılarını belirlemede ise amaçlı örneklem yöntemlerinden biri olan maksimum çeşitlilik örnekleme tekniği tercih edilmiştir. Katılımcıların görüşlerini elde etmek üzere yarı yapılandırılmış görüşme formu kullanılarak toplamda 28 hemşireyle derinlemesine görüşmeler yapılmıştır. Görüşmeler, yorumlayıcı fenomenolojik yaklaşım kullanılarak kodlanmıştır. Araştırma sonucunda, hemşirelerin algıları, yaptıkları değerlendirmeler ve deneyimlerinden yararlanılarak duygusal emek davranışı sergilemeye neden olan unsurlar ile duygusal emek davranışı sergilenmesinin sonuçları tespit edilmiştir. Elde edilen bulgulara göre, zorlu ve yorucu salgın sürecinde önemli görevler üstlenen hemşirelerin daha sağlıklı koşullarda verimli çalışabilmeleri için bütüncül bir desteğe ihtiyaç duydukları anlaşılmıştır. Ayrıca, duygusal emek davranışını derinden ve hatta samimi davranışlar olarak sergileyebilmeleri için yöneticilerinin destekleyici, anlayış gösteren ve iletişime açık bir işleyiş benimsemesi ve hemşirelerin duygu durumlarının desteklenmesi gerektiği belirtilebilir. Bunun yanı sıra, duygusal emek davranışlarının öneminin kavranması maksadıyla Covid-19 salgınında fiilen çalışan benzer nitelikteki çalışanların katılımıyla farklı kurumlarda benzer araştırmaların yapılması önerilmektedir.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Duygusal emek
• Hemşire
• Covid-19 sagını
• Nitel araştırma

Kaynakça

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