Rehabilitation Specialty Hospital Conversion to Support a COVID-19 Pandemic Surge: Nurses' Perceptions

Area of Science:

• Nursing
• Healthcare Management
• Qualitative Research

Background:

• Specialty hospitals face unique challenges during public health crises.
• Understanding the nurse's perspective is vital for effective crisis response.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the experiences of rehabilitation nurses during a hospital conversion to acute medical/COVID-19 care.
• To identify key factors influencing nurses' adaptation to a new patient population.

Main Methods:

• A descriptive qualitative study design was employed.
• Online surveys were used to collect narrative data from rehabilitation nurses.
• Conventional content analysis was applied to analyze the data.

Main Results:

• The overarching theme was "we did what we had to do."
• Nurses reported feeling challenged, conflicted, and compromised.
• Leadership communication significantly impacted the conversion experience.

Conclusions:

• Specialty hospital conversions require leadership to acknowledge the distinct nature of rehabilitation nursing.
• Effective communication, support, and attention to staff self-care are essential for nursing well-being during conversions.
• Listening to and supporting nursing staff is paramount in disaster scenarios.