Chief Nursing Officers Their COVID-19 Experience

OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to describe the experience of chief nursing officers (CNOs), including leadership strategies that they developed as they encountered the administrative challenges posed by COVID-19. BACKGROUND The COVID-19 pandemic required CNOs to make difficult decisions and to support nursing staff as they cared for critically ill and dying patients, and therefore, they experienced intense stress during a pandemic of a highly infectious disease. Understanding the challenges that CNOs faced in this crisis will help hospitals and CNOs to better prepare for the future. METHODS Using a descriptive qualitative approach, we conducted interviews with 9 CNOs from hospitals across the United States. The goal of the interviews was to develop an understanding of the difficulties that these CNOs encountered during the COVID-19 pandemic and their emotional response to the challenging situations. RESULTS Themes of frustration, heartbreak, and feeling overwhelmed, exhausted, and helpless were revealed. In addition, pride in being a nurse was expressed. CONCLUSION Themes revealed in this study suggested intentional leadership strategies that would be useful in future healthcare crises.