. 2022 May 17;10:124. doi: 10.1186/s40359-022-00834-4

Table 3.

An example of coding and development of sub-categories and categories

Meaning units	Coding	Sub category	Category
“When your shift is over, you can barely breathe; with a high PaCO2, it’s hard to breathe … it’s hard to eat in this coverall, you can’t drink any water through your shift … the fatigue …. Working in such conditions won’t let you manage stress…” (P12) “The annoying thought of having to put on gear that’s a torture …” (P16)	Having shortness of breath when one is wearing a mask Not having enough time to eat Not having enough time to drink anything Listlessness Increased difficulty of having to work in protective gear	Working in difficult conditions	Facing psychological and mental tension
“When the epidemic started, we didn’t have access to special gear for COVID-19 protection and had to care for the infected with minimum equipment, in regular masks and uniforms …” (P5)	Lack of special protective gear for caring for COVID-19 patients Lack of gowns Lack of face shields	Lack of personal protective equipment
“When I got on the hospital shuttle, I felt so nervous. All the other staff that didn’t work in COVID-19 units would protest and tell the driver that he shouldn’t let me get on board … I should get off ….” (P 7)	Objection of nurses from other wards to the boarding of nurses from COVID-19 wards Being rejected by one’s colleagues	Feeling rejected

Meaning units

Coding

Sub category

Category

“When your shift is over, you can barely breathe; with a high PaCO2, it’s hard to breathe … it’s hard to eat in this coverall, you can’t drink any water through your shift … the fatigue …. Working in such conditions won’t let you manage stress…” (P12)

“The annoying thought of having to put on gear that’s a torture …” (P16)

Having shortness of breath when one is wearing a mask

Not having enough time to eat

Not having enough time to drink anything

Listlessness

Increased difficulty of having to work in protective gear

Working in difficult conditions

Facing psychological and mental tension

“When the epidemic started, we didn’t have access to special gear for COVID-19 protection and had to care for the infected with minimum equipment, in regular masks and uniforms …” (P5)

Lack of special protective gear for caring for COVID-19 patients

Lack of gowns

Lack of face shields

Lack of personal protective equipment

“When I got on the hospital shuttle, I felt so nervous. All the other staff that didn’t work in COVID-19 units would protest and tell the driver that he shouldn’t let me get on board … I should get off ….” (P 7)

Objection of nurses from other wards to the boarding of nurses from COVID-19 wards

Being rejected by one’s colleagues

Feeling rejected