Transforming the identities of perioperative nurses during COVID-19: A grounded theory approach

Introduction: There is a need for a policy about endemic diseases and pandemics to increase the safety of healthcare professionals, especially nursing personnel. Studies on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on perioperative nurses’ work processes are scarce. Aim: The objectives of this study were...

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Main Authors: Léia Regina de Souza Alcântara, Laisa Polatri Piai, Aline Balandis Costa, Miriam Fernanda Sanches Alarcon, Wilza Carla Spiri, Silvia Cristina Mangini Bocchi, Marla Andreia Garcia de Avila
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Australian College of Perioperative Nurses 2025-06-01
Series:Journal of Perioperative Nursing
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Online Access:https://journal.acorn.org.au/index.php/jpn/article/view/210
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author Léia Regina de Souza Alcântara
Laisa Polatri Piai
Aline Balandis Costa
Miriam Fernanda Sanches Alarcon
Wilza Carla Spiri
Silvia Cristina Mangini Bocchi
Marla Andreia Garcia de Avila
author_facet Léia Regina de Souza Alcântara
Laisa Polatri Piai
Aline Balandis Costa
Miriam Fernanda Sanches Alarcon
Wilza Carla Spiri
Silvia Cristina Mangini Bocchi
Marla Andreia Garcia de Avila
author_sort Léia Regina de Souza Alcântara
collection DOAJ
description Introduction: There is a need for a policy about endemic diseases and pandemics to increase the safety of healthcare professionals, especially nursing personnel. Studies on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on perioperative nurses’ work processes are scarce. Aim: The objectives of this study were to understand the work experience of Brazilian perioperative nurses at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic and to develop a theoretical model that represents this process. Method: This is qualitative research with theoretical saturation achieved through the analysis of the 19th interview with nurses who had experienced the phenomenon under study. The interviews were recorded using a conferencing system and then transcribed in full, after which they were analysed according to grounded theory. Results: Three subprocesses emerged from this analysis: the COVID-19 pandemic left nurses in unprepared surgical settings feeling less confident, nurses were protagonists of transformational leadership in the work process and in shaping their professional identity, nurses reflected on the impact of COVID-19 on their work process and professional identity while the pandemic continued. From the realignment of the components of these subprocesses, it was possible to abstract the core category (process), entitled ‘from fragility to transitional overcoming of epic protagonism of perioperative nurses during the COVID-19 pandemic: transformational leadership as an intervening component for professional identity’. Conclusion: The discovered theoretical model posits transformational leadership as a potential tool for reconstructing nurses’ professional identities. Finally, this research recommends the formulation of a global policy to support systematic, active and continuous organisational programs for the management of future epidemics and pandemics.
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spelling doaj-art-53e2f4fae3d64d6280c1834538bec6282025-08-20T03:21:06ZengAustralian College of Perioperative NursesJournal of Perioperative Nursing2209-10842209-10922025-06-0138210.26550/2209-1092.1376Transforming the identities of perioperative nurses during COVID-19: A grounded theory approachLéia Regina de Souza Alcântara0Laisa Polatri Piai1Aline Balandis Costa2Miriam Fernanda Sanches Alarcon3Wilza Carla Spiri4https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0838-6633Silvia Cristina Mangini Bocchi5https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2188-009XMarla Andreia Garcia de Avila6https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6652-4427North Paraná State University (UENP)São Paulo State University (Unesp)North Paraná State University (UENP)North Paraná State University (UENP)State of São Paulo UniversitySão Paulo State University (Unesp)São Paulo State University (UNESP) Introduction: There is a need for a policy about endemic diseases and pandemics to increase the safety of healthcare professionals, especially nursing personnel. Studies on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on perioperative nurses’ work processes are scarce. Aim: The objectives of this study were to understand the work experience of Brazilian perioperative nurses at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic and to develop a theoretical model that represents this process. Method: This is qualitative research with theoretical saturation achieved through the analysis of the 19th interview with nurses who had experienced the phenomenon under study. The interviews were recorded using a conferencing system and then transcribed in full, after which they were analysed according to grounded theory. Results: Three subprocesses emerged from this analysis: the COVID-19 pandemic left nurses in unprepared surgical settings feeling less confident, nurses were protagonists of transformational leadership in the work process and in shaping their professional identity, nurses reflected on the impact of COVID-19 on their work process and professional identity while the pandemic continued. From the realignment of the components of these subprocesses, it was possible to abstract the core category (process), entitled ‘from fragility to transitional overcoming of epic protagonism of perioperative nurses during the COVID-19 pandemic: transformational leadership as an intervening component for professional identity’. Conclusion: The discovered theoretical model posits transformational leadership as a potential tool for reconstructing nurses’ professional identities. Finally, this research recommends the formulation of a global policy to support systematic, active and continuous organisational programs for the management of future epidemics and pandemics. https://journal.acorn.org.au/index.php/jpn/article/view/210perioperative nursingsurgi-centresleadership and governancecapacityCOVID-19pandemics
spellingShingle Léia Regina de Souza Alcântara
Laisa Polatri Piai
Aline Balandis Costa
Miriam Fernanda Sanches Alarcon
Wilza Carla Spiri
Silvia Cristina Mangini Bocchi
Marla Andreia Garcia de Avila
Transforming the identities of perioperative nurses during COVID-19: A grounded theory approach
Journal of Perioperative Nursing
perioperative nursing
surgi-centres
leadership and governance
capacity
COVID-19
pandemics
title Transforming the identities of perioperative nurses during COVID-19: A grounded theory approach
title_full Transforming the identities of perioperative nurses during COVID-19: A grounded theory approach
title_fullStr Transforming the identities of perioperative nurses during COVID-19: A grounded theory approach
title_full_unstemmed Transforming the identities of perioperative nurses during COVID-19: A grounded theory approach
title_short Transforming the identities of perioperative nurses during COVID-19: A grounded theory approach
title_sort transforming the identities of perioperative nurses during covid 19 a grounded theory approach
topic perioperative nursing
surgi-centres
leadership and governance
capacity
COVID-19
pandemics
url https://journal.acorn.org.au/index.php/jpn/article/view/210
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