Opportunities in Chaos: Leveraging Innovation to Create a New Reality in Nursing Education.

ABSTRACT

The impact of the global coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has triggered changes in nursing education at a pace not previously experienced in academia. Academic nursing leaders have been faced with challenges of balancing the impact of the pandemic responses in the face-to-face classroom, laboratory, and clinical learning, ensuring the safety of the college community, and supporting alternative educational delivery formats with assurance that desired learning outcomes and demanded professional competencies are attained. The challenge faced by these leaders is unprecedented. However, there is opportunity in crisis for leaders. This article details how the leadership at one institution leveraged transformational change theory to support faculty, staff, and students during this time of rapid change. Additionally, the article discusses the use of transformational change theory and the ongoing institutional commitment to meeting curricular goals and objectives while maintaining a commitment to being student focused.