Abstract
BACKGROUND: Professional nurses typically promote and advocate self-care practices to their patients to achieve better health outcomes, but rarely engage in these practices themselves. METHODS: A qualitative, descriptive phenomenological approach was used in this study. Ten professional nurses employed in different primary health care facilities were purposively sampled. Semi-structured interviews were conducted to collect data, which were analysed using Colaizzi's data analysis strategy, and data saturation was reached. RESULTS: Two themes were identified. Theme 1: the participants expressed that internal and external factors compromised self-care practices, such as subconscious self-neglect, insufficient resources, and a depressed economy, which encouraged them to work extended hours. Theme 2: participants' holistic well-being was compromised, as they neglected their mental well-being. CONCLUSION: Self-care practices among professional nurses seem unachievable. The extent of this population's self-care neglect was evident during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic when professional nurses globally gave of themselves relentlessly.Contribution: This is the first study conducted on the topic in the City of Ekurhuleni, and the findings will provide relevant stakeholders with a directive on what strategies, policies, and guidelines to develop and implement to make self-care practices attainable for professional nurses.