<![CDATA[Philippine emergency care settings are characterized by systemic scarcity, limited resources, and inadequate institutional support. This study explored how Generation Z emergency room nurses experienced and responded to workplace adversity in resource-constrained settings. A qualitative descriptive phenomenological design was used. Purposive sampling recruited 12 Generation Z emergency nurses from resource-limited hospitals. Data saturation was reached by the tenth informant and confirmed through two interviews. Audio-recorded interviews were transcribed verbatim and analyzed using Colaizzi’s phenomenological method. Trustworthiness was supported through member checking conducted by all researchers after preliminary analysis; informant feedback did not result in changes to the themes. Bracketing was maintained throughout the research process, and an audit trail documented transcript, coding records, reflexive notes, and analytic decisions. Findings revealed four themes: Challenges in Limited Resource Hospital Settings; Optimizing Functioning through Self-Regulation; Personal Qualities and Strategies for Effective Adaptation; and Engagement in Addressing Health Problems Amid Adversity. Based on these findings, the authors propose COPE as a descriptive model: C represents Challenges, O Optimizing Functioning, P Personal Qualities and Strategies, and E Engagement. Exploring Generation Z nurses' Adversity Quotient through their lived experiences revealed that despite adversities posed by limited-resourced emergency room settings, Generation Z nurses demonstrated resilience by employing strategies to effectively adapt, perform, and manage their professional role as a healthcare provider.]]>
