COVID-19 Stressors and Resilience Among Nurse Leaders

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic introduced many new stressors to nurses in general, yet little is known about COVID-19–related stressors and resilience among nursing leaders. The aims of this study were to explore (1) the COVID-19–related stressor and resilience by personal and work demographics, (2) the relationship between COVID-19 stressors and resilience, and (3) resilience strategies used by leaders and their recommendations to other nurse leaders. This descriptive, cross-sectional study employed an electronic survey to measure COVID-19–related stressors and resilience and included qualitative open-ended questions. A total of 57 nurse leaders responded to the survey. Nurse leaders who were female, African American, chief nurse executive or nursing director, and had more than 10 years of experience reported highest COVID-19 stress in most of subscales. Nurse leaders who were male, African American, chief nurse executive or nursing director, and had more than 10 years of experience reported highest resilience scores. Nurse leaders with higher resilience levels had lower levels of COVID-19 stress in all subscales. Nurse leaders reported the top 3 resilience strategies as (1) prayer and faith, (2) social support, and (3) self-care and the top 3 recommendations to other nurse leaders as (1) disconnect, (2) positive and creative thinking, and (3) self-care.