Iranian Journal of Nursing and Midwifery Research1735-906628220230417214219ENAssociate Professor, Department of Health Psychology, School of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, IsfahanPhD in Nursing, Nursing and Midwifery Care Research Center, Department of Community Health and Geriatric Nursing, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, IsfahanPhD Candidate in Industrial and Organizational Psychology, Department of Psychology, Faculty of Educational Sciences and Psychology, Isfahan University, Isfahan,PhD in Psychology Islamic Azad University Science and Research Branch, Tehran(Esfahan)MSc in Health Psychology, Behavioral Sciences Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran2023041820230418<p><strong>Background: </strong>Nurses are in direct contact with patients with COVID‑19 and have faced much tension with the rapid spread of coronavirus. This study aimed to explore the safe coping strategies of nurses when facing the COVID‑19 pandemic.</p><p><strong>Materials and Methods: </strong>In this qualitative study, data were collected from September 20 to December 20, 2020, in Isfahan (Iran) through individual semi‑structured interviews with 12 nurses working in the five referral centers for patients with COVID‑19. Informants were selected via purposeful sampling and interviewed in one or several sessions at the appropriate time and place. The interviews continued until data saturation. All interviews continued until no new data were added to the continuous content analysis. Data analysis was performed using conventional content analysis based on Graneheim and Lundman’s approach. We used Guba and Lincoln’s criteria (including credibility, transferability, conformability, and dependability) to guarantee trustworthiness and rigor.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Safe coping strategies for nurses were discovered in two categories of “wise liberation” and “care,” and six subcategories. “Wise liberation” consisted of four subcategories: “living in the moment,” “accepting the inner and outer world,” “life enrichment,” and “building opportunities.” “Care” contained two subcategories: “caring for others” and “caring for oneself.”</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Discovering safe coping strategies for nurses could set the stage for special educational–therapeutic interventions so they can better understand their experiences and take advantage of the best coping strategies.</p><p><strong><br /></strong></p>http://ijnmr.mui.ac.ir/index.php/ijnmr/article/view/1983http://ijnmr.mui.ac.ir/index.php/ijnmr/article/download/1983/70707556