2026/05/13 by Rheajane Rosales
Nursing · Psychology · Social Sciences · #Audit #Burnout #COVID-19 and Mental Health #Cultural Competency in Health Care #Health care #Nursing education and management #Organizational culture #Psychological resilience #Qualitative research #Resource (disambiguation) #Sociocultural evolution #Workforce
paper · pdf · doi:10.32945/atr4814.2026
crossref issued 2026/05/13 · crossref published 2026/05/13 · crossref published-online 2026/05/13 · openalex publication_date 2026/05/13 · crossref created 2026/05/13 · openalex created_date 2026/05/14 · openalex updated_date 2026/05/21 · crossref published-print 2026/06/30 · crossref deposited 2026/08/03 · crossref indexed 2026/08/03
Background: The global nursing workforce faces ongoing shortages, ethical strain, and emotional fatigue—challenges that are especially acute in low-resource health systems. While existing research often focuses on burnout or the intent to migrate, little is known about how nurses who choose to stay in their home countries understand and sustain resilience, particularly in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic. Objectives: To examine how Filipino nurses who continue to serve in local healthcare settings make sense of and sustain resilience amid enduring structural challenges and external migration pressures. Methods: Using Gadamer's hermeneutic phenomenology, nurses active in local practice at the time of the interview were purposively recruited from a range of nursing settings. In-depth semi-structured interviews were conducted to explore their lived experiences. Data were analyzed using established interpretive frameworks, with rigor ensured through reflexivity, peer debriefing, and audit trails. All reporting adhered to the Standards for Reporting Qualitative Research (SRQR). Results: Three compelling themes emerged. Holding the Line represents moral steadfastness anchored in cultural values such as malasakit and collective solidarity. Bearing the Weight exposes the hidden emotional and ethical labor behind moral distress and organizational silence. Reimagining Tomorrow reflects generational hopes for recognition, professional growth, and a more equitable future. Conclusion: Resilience among Filipino nurses is not simply an individual trait but a dynamic, relational, and future-oriented process deeply shaped by sociocultural context, team belonging, and evolving professional aspirations. While resilience enables nurses to maintain care delivery under resource constraints, it also entails significant emotional and ethical costs that exceed personal coping. Systemic reforms—including supportive leadership, ethical organizational practices, reflective spaces, and sustainable career pathways—are needed to foster nurse retention and well-being.