ABSTRACT
AIM: The study was conducted to understand the experiences of nurse managers with regard to the difficulties and opportunities they encountered during the pandemic. BACKGROUND: Although many studies have been carried out to understand how nurses were affected in the COVID-19 pandemic, there are few studies that treat the experiences of nurse managers. METHODS: In this qualitative descriptive study with 19 nurse managers working in pandemic management at a university hospital in Turkey during the first three waves of the pandemic, data were collected between April and July 2021 using the semi-structured interview method. Content analysis was performed to analyse the data. RESULTS: Six themes were identified with respect to the experiences of nurse managers during the pandemic. These themes were initial reactions to the crisis, ineffective crisis management, excessive workload, the moral burden in decision-making, support of colleagues and other multidisciplinary team and nurse manager empowerment. CONCLUSIONS: The nurse managers had difficulties in their managerial roles during the pandemic. However, they also viewed the crisis as an opportunity because they were able to note the deficiencies in management at all levels of the hospital and their leadership and decision-making roles took on more importance. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING MANAGEMENT: Nurse managers may use the results of this study to be prepared for the continuing COVID-19 pandemic and any other emergency circumstances that they may have to face in the future.