Adapting and Creating Healing Environments: Lessons Nurses Have Learned From the COVID-19 Pandemic

The purpose of this article is to discuss how nurse leaders influenced facility design decisions, quickly evaluated the outcomes, and rapidly adapted the environment based on their own observations, assessments, changing regulatory requirements, and the needs of patients, nurses, and the caring workforce. Nurses must validate their clinical voice in the future design of healthcare environments based on the adaptations discovered and instituted during COVID-19. Many lessons were learned and physical adaptations made during the pandemic. While the pandemic spotlighted the emotional and physical stress and strain on nurses, it is important to consider all adaptations made in the physical environment to improve care delivery.