Shared Experiences of Nurse Anesthesiology Faculty During the COVID-19 Pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic impacted all aspects of healthcare, including the education of certified registered nurse anesthesiologists. While the literature contains reports of the impact of COVID-19 on physician anesthesiologist faculty, there was no research identified describing the impact on nurse anesthesiologist faculty. The purpose of this study was therefore to describe and explore the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on nurse anesthesiology faculty. This qualitative ethnographic study used small focus groups and semistructured and probing questions to examine the phenomenon of interest. Through thematic analysis of the narrative, five overarching themes were identified: 1) ability to adapt to adversity, 2) disruption leads to change, 3) perceived positive outcomes, 4) previously untapped resources, and 5) curricular innovation and integrity.