Leadership Immersion and Aspiring Leader Programs Designed to Improve Nurses' Well-Being and Competence: Integral Features During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Nurse leaders play integral roles in the health care system as they focus on patient quality of care and safety at a high level and lead teams of frontline staff. Nurse leadership turnover during COVID-19 poses challenges not only for continuity of patient care but also for organizations that may fail to meet their specific goals. When a nurse leader role is not filled, gaps in care delivery occur. Our institution developed the Leadership Immersion and Aspiring Leader Programs prior to COVID-19 that provide application to theory opportunities to new nursing leaders who are prepared to fill leadership positions.