Navigating Nurses’ Lived Social Experiences during a Health Crisis in Sarawak: A Phenomenological Study

Abstract

Introduction: Health is a dynamic and holistic state of well-being rather than merely the absence of illness. Social well-being among nurses is both a personal necessity and a professional imperative, as their interactions with patients, colleagues, families, and institutional systems fundamentally shape their professional identity and psychosocial health. Objectives: To explore the social experiences of nurses in Sarawak during the COVID-19 pandemic, with a focus on how their interactions with patients, colleagues, families, and healthcare systems shaped their sense of social well-being. Methods: Using a phenomenological approach, this qualitative study explored the lived, relational dimensions of nurses' experiences. Data were collected through face-to-face semi-structured interviews with ten purposively selected nurses, continuing until data saturation was achieved. Thematic analysis followed the sixphase framework. Results: Four themes emerged: disrupted personal freedom and diminished social engagement; fractured family bonds and emotional strain; stigmatization and societal rejection; and multi-dimensional camaraderie. Nurses described feelings of isolation, disrupted routines, and strained familial ties, yet also found strength in shared experiences and institutional support. Conclusion: Social well-being emerged as a dynamic, relational construct shaped by both vulnerability and resilience. The integration of existential structures offers a deeper understanding of how nurses’social realities were disrupted and redefined during the pandemic. These findings underscore the need for psychosocial support, relational leadership, and stigma-reduction strategies to safeguard nurses’wellbeing during public health crises.