Nurse Executive Experiences With COVID-19: Now We Know-We Are Not Going Back

Area of Science:

• Nursing Leadership
• Disaster Response
• Healthcare Management

Background:

• The COVID-19 pandemic presented unprecedented challenges for healthcare systems.
• Nurse leaders play a critical role in managing nursing staff during crises.
• Understanding their experiences is vital for future disaster preparedness.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the experiences of hospital-based nurse leaders during the initial phase of the COVID-19 pandemic.
• To identify key challenges and successful strategies in managing nurses during a large-scale disaster.
• To inform future disaster response planning and support for nursing staff.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative study utilizing semistructured telephone interviews.
• Subset of a larger study involving 11 nurse executives across different disaster types.
• Grounded theory and content analysis of qualitative data.

Main Results:

• Nurses demonstrated deep commitment across extensive roles during the pandemic.
• Key themes included the need for enhanced disaster response education for nurses.
• Organizational strategies, clear policies, and mental/emotional health support were crucial for nurses.
• Team-based approaches leveraging expertise improved patient outcomes.

Conclusions:

• Effective disaster response requires robust educational preparation for nurses.
• Strong organizational support, including policies and mental health services, is essential.
• Team-based care models enhance nursing capacity and patient outcomes during crises.