The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in countless financial losses, the loss of loved ones, and, for some, long-term physical consequences. Far less mentioned are the psychological consequences. A special population affected by the pandemic are medical workers who were in daily contact with COVID-19 patients. The challenges they faced in the workplace, such as lack of resources and excessive workload, did not come alone - along with them came numerous challenges of private nature. Therefore, the goal of this study was to use a qualitative approach to gain insight into the experiences in the family and social life of medical workers who cared for COVID-19 patients. 11 nurses participated in the research, and data were collected through semi-structured interviews. The thematic analysis resulted in five themes: family and social life, relationships with colleagues, societal changes, emotional and physical reactions, coping and expectations for the future. Most of the participants indicated increased isolation from friends and family, which was their greatest source of support and comfort. They mostly avoided talking about work, stressing that those who are not health professionals would not understand their feelings and difficulties. Relations with colleagues are mostly described through rapprochement and collegiality, and relations with superiors through dissatisfaction. They also talked about the frustration of non-compliance with epidemiological measures and highlighted negative experiences with the media. Among the negative emotions, they mentioned fear, depression, dejection, stress, and anxiety, and among the positive ones, they emphasized gratitude for health and respect for colleagues. Of the coping strategies, they used seeking social support to the greatest extent. These results could serve as a basis for interventions and providing psychological support to medical professionals in the future.