Abstract Aims To gain insight into how direct care staff in Dutch nursing homes experienced work during the COVID‐19 pandemic. Design A qualitative study consisting of semi‐structured, face‐to‐face focus groups was conducted using “the active dialogue approach”. Methods Participants (n = 29) were care staff from four care teams at Dutch nursing homes. Teams were selected based on the number of COVID‐19 infections amongst residents. Data were analysed with conventional content analysis. Results Themes emerging from the data were the loss of (daily) working structure, interference between work and private life for direct care staff, the importance of social support by the team and a leader, and the effects on relationship‐centred care of the measures. Results offer concrete implications for similar situations in the future: psychological support on‐site; autonomy in daily work of care staff; an active role of a manger on the work floor and the importance of relationship‐centred care.