Nurse managers' perceptions and experiences during the COVID-19 crisis: A qualitative study

Background: Coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemics are an international threat to global health and health systems and then healthcare providers. Nurses' managers who are responsible for organizing the nurses and their activities grapple with even more challenges, which are overlooked. This study was conducted to elaborate on the nurse managers' experiences facing the Coronavirus pandemic. Materials and Methods: This study adopted a conventional approach to qualitative content analysis. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 18 nurse managers working at the University Hospitals of Mashhad University of Medical Sciences from April 5, 2020 to June 15, 2020. The interviews continued until data saturation. Data analysis was performed using the method proposed by Lundman and Graneheim. Results: Participants described their experiences about facing COVID-19 pandemic into three categories of 'facing the personnel's mental health', 'Managerial and equipment provision challenges', and 'adaptability and exultation process', with 13 sub-categories. Conclusions: Dealing with critical conditions could make the frontline managers, and specially nurse managers, face serious challenges. However, in case of proper crisis management andadaptation of sufficient supporting strategies, these threats could turn into an opportunity to exault the individuals and consequently the organizations engaged.