Table 3 Categories, subcategories, and codes

Psychological shocks related to COVID-19 patient’s death

Sense of loss and helplessness

Acknowledging the powerlessness in not being able to save a patient’s life, as well as the sense of helplessness, sorrow, and deep disappointment often experienced.

Sense of tension and fear

The feeling of being overwhelmed. The dread of going to work, having to confront the novel coronavirus, witnessing the passing away of critically ill patients, shedding tears for those who have passed on, often feeling tense and emotionally exhausted.

Sense of sensitivity and anxiety

Experiencing the aftermath of death leads to difficulty falling asleep, sleep deprivation, emotional sensitivity, and anxiety due to work stress.

Personal psychological adjustment and demands

Personal psychological adjustment

Relieve negative emotions by crying, introspection, and discussing with family and friends.

Psychological support demands

Death education and online and on-site independent psychological counseling are needed from hospitals or public health institutions.

Insights on life and values

Cherish life and live in the moment

Recognizing the transience of life, treasuring every moment, and feeling grateful for what we have; pursuing a healthier lifestyle by exercising regularly, getting plenty of rest, and eating nutritiously.

Social responsibility and professional mission

Acknowledging the life-saving duty of nurses, their professional mission, and social responsibility.

Strengthening of professional value

Recognition from society and self-identification elevate nurses’ professional values, significantly enhancing the nursing worth they bring.

Needs for relevant knowledge and skills

Knowledge and skills of COVID-19 nursing

The training is brief and unfamiliar, with a focus on intensive care work, potential side effects of certain medications, and the utilization of specialized equipment.

Body care for infectious disease patients

Lack of experience in handling dead bodies of infected patients, resulting in fear and lack of nursing skills in the actual operation.

Humanistic care and emotional support

The necessary support to alleviate the psychological distress of dying patients is often lacking, leaving families devastated by the loss of their beloved.