Experiences and Challenges of Nursing Managers’ Preparedness for Timing Response to Covid-19 Pandemic: A Qualitative Study in Iran Publisher



Farahmandnia H¹ ; Molavitaleghani Y² ; Pourvakhshoori N³ ; Ziapour A⁴ ; Abdolahi M⁵
Source: Africa Journal of Nursing and Midwifery Published:2022

Abstract

The preparedness of nurses in the COVID-19 pandemic is of great importance with regard to the unknown future of the pandemic and other similar ones. Identifying nurses’ problems can lead to better planning, preparation and management. In this study, we aim to explore the experiences and challenges of nursing managers’ preparedness for timing responses to the COVID-19 pandemic. We conducted the research as a qualitative content analysis in Iran in 2022. The data were collected through in-depth semi-structured individual interviews with 15 nursing managers who were selected by purposeful sampling. After transcriptionof theinterviews, a content analysis usingconstant comparison was performed for data analysis based on the Graneheim and Lundmanapproach. The results of the study canbe summarisedin the following four main categories and nine subcategories: the necessity of exercises in the same environment (performing exercises to prepare for possible pandemics, experiencingscenes similarto real pandemics, creatingthe experience of similar environments for the preparation of nurses), educating all members involved in providing services in the COVID-19 pandemic (preparation of non-specialist workers forpandemics, trainingall members of the treatment andnon-treatment team), management and leadership (inappropriate policymaking and unsuitable planning), and processes and structures (processes for providing services and ineffective provision of protective equipment). As we pointed out in this study, it seems that to solve some of these challenges coordination is needed outside the health sector. In addition, the establishment of the National COVID-19 Control Centre can contribute to developing necessary policies and strategies for handling the pandemic. © Unisa Press 2023.