Table 2.

Summary of themes and subthemes.

Themes	Main category	Subcategory
Ethical challenges	People with COVID-19	Neglected patient rights
		The lack of emotional support
	Inequality	Unequal exposure to the infectious environment
		Role ambiguity between doctors and nurses
	Professional ethics	Insufficient response to urgency requirements of the situation
		Low sense of responsibility in nursing services
	Job competency	Lack of knowledge and skills
		Inability in psychological adjustment and stress resistance
Coping styles	Active control and planning
	Seeking support
	Catharsis and staying focused
Impacts on career	Specialized nursing skills
	Scientific research ability
	Management skills