OBJECTIVE: To explore the experiences of frontline nurses through analyzing nurse online diaries during the pandemic.
BACKGROUND: Over 42,600 healthcare professionals took care of patients with COVID-19 in Wuhan in the initial months between 23 January 2020 and 8 April 2020. Many used to write online diaries on Sina Microblog and still wrote about their experiences in the front line on this site. However, there has been little research on frontline nurses\' experiences in the initial months of the pandemic through analyzing their narratives.
METHODS: A qualitative descriptive design.
METHODS: A qualitative content analysis was used to analyze online diaries written by frontline nurses in Wuhan. A total of 205 entries in online diaries were collected from 12 frontline nurses, as accessible to those who subscribed to Sina Microblog social media site, between 23 January 2020 and 8 April 2020. NVivo12 was used to help analyze the data, and COREQ reporting guidelines were also used in this study.
RESULTS: Two themes were identified: constructing a better self and constructing a strong support network. A better self was constructed in describing positive emotions, commitment to care, pride and achievements, and whole-person growth. A strong support network was constructed through social support via different sources and gaining self-support via narrating their personal experiences in diaries.
CONCLUSIONS: Frontline nurses demonstrated personal growth, psychological well-being, and professionalism in the process of constructing a better self and a strong support network.
CONCLUSIONS: The findings indicate that frontline nurses can use narratives as debriefing opportunities and a way of gaining self-support. We suggest that online communities of professional support be used as an essential platform for sharing narratives and gaining a more comprehensive understanding of frontline nurses in the COVID-19 pandemic and other global public health events.

As Chinese immigrants in the United Kingdom age, they experience an increasing need to access health and care services. It has, however, been reported that older Chinese immigrants have difficulties in accessing these services. This study explored the experiences of this population in using health and care services and the strategies that they adopted to address their difficulties. A grounded theory method with a two-staged research design was used. Stage 1 explored the participants\' experiences of ageing and use of health and social care services through focus group interviews. Stage 2 investigated the strategies individuals used to support access to and use of services through individual interviews. Forty-four older Chinese people and 15 supporters participated in interviews during August 2011 and May 2013. These older Chinese immigrants were challenged in knowing about and in accessing services. Their difficulties were attributed to language barriers, lack of information and instrumental support, and emotional and cultural issues regarding use of health and care services. Their supporters facilitated access to services and acted as a bridge between the service and the user; therefore, they were given the title \'Bridge People\'. Bridge People have different backgrounds: family and friends, public sector workers and staff from community-based Chinese organisations. The defining attributes of these supporters were: bilinguality, bicultural, multifunctionality and accessibility. There is no charge for this support; and the relationship between the Bridge Person and recipient involves trust and influence over decisions regarding use of health and care services. Bridge People should be recognised and identified by health, social care and housing services to promote engagement and use of services by older immigrant Chinese people.