Managing Nursing Staff During the Covid-19 Pandemic at a Southern Regional Hospital.

Abstract

     This descriptive qualitative research aimed to examine experiences of nursing staffs management during the COVID-19 pandemic at a regional hospital in the lower southern region. The participants were Heads ward and those assigned to manage nursing staff during the COVID-19 pandemic at a tertiary hospital in the lower southern region under the Ministry of Public Health. Twenty-three were selected through purposive sampling. The research instrument was an in-depth interview using unstructured or formal interviews with open-ended questions. General data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, and qualitative data were analyzed using content analysis.

     The results revealed that three key themes emerged from nursing staff management during the COVID-19 pandemic at a regional hospital in the lower southern region: 1) adapting nursing staff to the current situation; 2) developing nursing competence to cope with the COVID-19 situation; and 3) supporting and caring for staff.  Nursing administrators can use the research results to establish training policies to prepare for management and nursing workforce management, ensuring that new administrators who are about to take up positions have the competence to ensure they are confident in managing nursing workforces during emergency crises.