# Feelings and Experiences of Return‐to‐Work Among Nurses Occupationally Infected With COVID‐19 During the Late Phase of the Pandemic in Japan

## TL;DR

This study examines the emotional journey of Japanese nurses who contracted COVID-19 at work and returned to their jobs, highlighting the impact of support and environment on their motivation and well-being.

## Contribution

The study provides new insights into how organizational support and personal reframing can help infected nurses return to work positively during a pandemic.

## Key findings

- Nurses experienced shock and guilt at diagnosis, which influenced their post-return feelings and distrust in infection control.
- Support from managers and colleagues fostered gratitude and determination to return to work.
- Improved nursing expertise and reaffirmed professional values helped transform the infection experience into a positive one.

## Abstract

This study explored the feelings of nurses occupationally infected with COVID‐19 during the late pandemic phase in Japan, from diagnosis to return to work, to provide suggestions for safe and continuous employment. Semi‐structured interviews were conducted among 11 nurses infected during the late phase of the pandemic (August 2022 to February 2023). The data were analyzed using a qualitative inductive approach. At diagnosis, nurses experienced shock and a strong sense of guilt and self‐blame arising from the feeling of being blamed by others. Negative emotions during the infection period influenced postreturn feelings, leading to distrust stemming from insufficient infection control measures and a desire to leave their workplace. Conversely, gratitude for the support from managers and colleagues during the recuperation period fostered their determination to return. Furthermore, a sense of achievement, such as improved nursing expertise and reaffirmation of professional values, facilitated a positive transformation of the infection experience, supporting work motivation. These findings suggest that managers and colleagues recognize the importance of alleviating nurses' self‐blame, improving environments, and organizational support, enabling nurses to maintain achievement by reframing their experiences positively.

This qualitative, inductive study explored the evolving feelings and perceptions of nurses who experienced occupational infection with COVID‐19 and their subsequent return to work during the late phase of the pandemic in Japan.Although negative emotions during infection may lead to dissatisfaction and a potential intent to leave the profession, support from managers and colleagues, along with personal reframing of experiences, can foster determination and motivation to return to work.Establishing supportive interactions that prevent nurses from feeling blamed or self‐reproached, improving workplace environments, and providing organizational efforts to nurture their growth and sense of accomplishment are essential. These findings offer important insights into the safe and continuous employment of healthcare workers during emerging infectious disease outbreaks.

This qualitative, inductive study explored the evolving feelings and perceptions of nurses who experienced occupational infection with COVID‐19 and their subsequent return to work during the late phase of the pandemic in Japan.

Although negative emotions during infection may lead to dissatisfaction and a potential intent to leave the profession, support from managers and colleagues, along with personal reframing of experiences, can foster determination and motivation to return to work.

Establishing supportive interactions that prevent nurses from feeling blamed or self‐reproached, improving workplace environments, and providing organizational efforts to nurture their growth and sense of accomplishment are essential. These findings offer important insights into the safe and continuous employment of healthcare workers during emerging infectious disease outbreaks.