en Nursing Orginal research <span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="line-height:2;"><span style="color:#2980b9;"><b>Background</b>:</span><span style="color:#000066;"> </span><span style="color:black">COVID-19, a universal crisis and a communicable disease with a super-spreading characteristic, has necessitated crucial prevention and control measures. </span><span style="background:white"><span style="color:#0f1115">Identifying the challenges and obstacles in this process can help in addressing and resolving them.</span></span><span style="color:black"></span><br> <span style="color:#2980b9;"><b>Objectives:</b> </span>&nbsp;<span style="color:black">This study aimed to explore healthcare providers&#39; experiences of the preventive measures and the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic.</span><br> <span style="color:#2980b9;"><b>Methods</b>:</span><span style="color:black"> This descriptive qualitative study was conducted at Lorestan University of Medical Sciences in 2020. Data collection was performed by in-depth face-to-face interviews with 23 Healthcare Providers (HCPs) who were recruited purposefully. The data were analyzed using conventional content analysis with the Graneheim and Lundman approach using the constant comparison technique. Qualitative data management was performed in MAXQDA 10. </span><br> <span style="color:#2980b9;"><b>Results</b>:</span><span style="color:black"> The qualitative data analysis yielded 5 categories, 10 subcategories, 29 ancillary categories, and 1,479 meaning units. Two themes that emerged in this study were &ldquo;COVID-19 as a Shock&rdquo; and &lsquo;COVID-19 as an empowering challenge&rdquo;. </span><br> <span style="color:#2980b9;"><b>Conclusion</b>: </span><span style="color:black">In this study, HCPs perceived the COVID-19 pandemic within the health system as both a devastating shock and a promoting factor, an experience that opened their eyes to the future. According to this lesson, policy and decision makers have to predict other crises like COVID-19 and have a well-defined plan to manage them.</span></span></span></span><br> &nbsp; COVID-19, Challenge, Prevention, Healthcare Provider, Qualitative Study 59 71 http://nmcjournal.zums.ac.ir/browse.php?a_code=A-10-1018-1&slc_lang=en&sid=1 Fateme Goudarzi fatemegoudarzi75@yahoo.com 100319475328460014431 100319475328460014431 Yes Social Determinants of Health Research Center, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Lorestan University of Medical Sciences, Khorramabad, Iran Hossein Goudarzi hosseingoudarzi95@yahoo.com 100319475328460014432 100319475328460014432 No Social Determinants of Health Research Center, Health Center of Boroujerd, Lorestan University of Medical Sciences, Khorramabad, Iran Kobra Rashidi ko.rashidi2020@gmail.com 100319475328460014433 100319475328460014433 No Social Determinants of Health Research Center, Department of Nursing, Boroujerd School of Nursing, Lorestan University of Medical Sciences, Khorramabad, Iran Shirin Hasanvand hasanvand.sh1390@gmail.com 100319475328460014434 100319475328460014434 No Social Determinants of Health Research Center, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Lorestan University of Medical Sciences, Khorramabad, Iran