2.3. Procedure

Individual semistructured interviews were conducted by an interviewer previously unknown to the participants (first author). Interviews took place between 2 May and 11 June 2019, in an undisturbed room at the participants' workplace. Each interview began in an open fashion with participants being invited to describe their perceptions of both positive and negative aspects of what it was like to work as a nurse at the unit. Using an interview guide, a number of specific aspects of nurses' psychosocial work environment at the unit were then covered, including but not limited to communication, workload, relationships with colleagues as well as with other professions and with management, scheduling, and sources of support and appreciation. Care was taken to avoid leading questions (e.g., questions containing assumptions about the existence or nature of problems in the nurses' work environment).

The duration of the interviews ranged from 26 to 54 min (mean 39.9 min, median 40 min). Interviews were audio‐recorded and transcribed verbatim.