Abstract
The onslaught of the COVID-19 pandemic marked a significant decrease of nurses in the country. The country lacks about 106, 000 nurses, both in public and private hospitals, based on the reports of the Department of Health as of 2022. In effect, nurses who remained were experiencing problems in delivering essential care, support, and comfort to their patients. This research was set forth to investigate the phenomenon concerning the lived experiences of nurses on the nursing shortage and to build a foundation for the nurses’ protection advocacies and education. The researchers used a hermeneutical phenomenological approach and gathered data using an exploratory questionnaire and in-depth interviews with the participants. This study is composed of three (3) participants for the pilot testing and eleven (11) samples for the study who were selected purposely. The data underwent thorough thematic and data analyses. Eventually, the analyzed data revealed that the nurses are facing overwhelming and heavy workloads due to a shortage in manpower and facing life-threatening situations in the performance of their duty. However, it was also disclosed that technologies and mutualism in the workplace are of big help to them. In conclusion, fulfilling protection advocacies and education must be strengthened among nurses to improve the quality of life they deserve.
