Objectives:

to analyze the experience of health professionals who provided first-line care to infected patients during the COVID-19 pandemic during the first wave.

Material and Methods:

Participants were recruited from among physicians and nurses in several hospitals and health centers in Spain. Narratives were obtained through three focus groups. Qualitative methodology was used according to exploratory, inductive, and ethnographic principles.

Results:

The experience of the health personnel was classified into six categories: The reaction and organization of health workers, materials and tests, emotional aspects of care, ethical conflicts, health management of the pandemic, and the social role of health workers.

Conclusions:

Healthcare workers took a proactive approach during the pandemic. Weaknesses and strengths in the provision of health care were. The capacity of emotional self-regulation of the health care workers is shown to be key to the ability of the health care system to continue operating.

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