Objective This study explored the consequences of COVID-19 on the occupational safety and health of nurses. Design Qualitative conventional content analysis. Participants 14 nurses selected by purposeful sampling method. Setting Five educational and non-educational hospitals in the Northwest of Iran. Data collection and analysis Semistructured interviews were used for data collection and analysed using conventional content analysis. Results Two main categories have emerged from the data: reduced quality of professional life and post-traumatic growth. Reduced quality of professional life, which has two subcategories including job dissatisfaction and burnout, has a negative nature, and has had many negative effects on the physical, mental and well-being of nursing personnel during the coronavirus era. On the other hand, post-traumatic growth, with two subcategories that include promoting safe behaviour and gaining a positive self-concept, has a positive nature. Conclusions Maintaining th