ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: In the wake of the pandemic and faculty shortage, strong academic nurse leaders (ANL) are needed to ensure quality education and professional standards are upheld while preparing future nurses. OBJECTIVES: This team explored experiences and perspectives of ANLs during the pandemic in order to better understand the difficulties they faced, their triumphs and failures, and lessons learned. DESIGN, SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: This descriptive-exploratory qualitative study captured leadership experiences of 11 academic leaders from a large, urban, Midwestern college of nursing. METHODS: Three focus group sessions were conducted virtually using a structured question guide and content analysis of transcripts. RESULTS: Three themes emerged from analysis: Technology, Time and Change, and Well-being. Content analysis also revealed leadership strategies and "pearls of wisdom" offered by participants. CONCLUSIONS: ANLs faced many challenges during the pandemic that required them to remain steady and present, while practicing regular and effective communication to foster strong relationships. As higher education and healthcare environments develop more complexity and remain constantly changing, leaders must be strategic, emotionally intelligent, and innovative in their roles.