Nursing

Abstract

Nurses are advocates for their patients, and nurse directors are advocates for both patients and their nursing staff, as well as the eyes and ears of senior leadership. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the nursing staff at SBH Health System were fearful and anxious; CDC guidelines were changing frequently. Following the frequently changing instructions on the use and conservation of PPE and isolation precautions was not easy. The presence of nurse directors gave the nursing staff support and education. During this crisis, three staggered daily shifts were created in order to cover, 7 days a week. Along with immediately reducing nursing staff anxiety, nursing staff felt greater support and encouragement from management and leaders, especially on the evening and night shifts. The nursing education department was an indispensable resource at the core of retraining nursing staff from different departments and training nursing staff in new procedures and equipment. The nurse director is one of the most important leadership positions in any hospital, but the heroes of this COVID-19 pandemic are all hospital workers.