Challenges facing nurse managers during and beyond COVID‐19 pandemic in relation to perceived organizational support

Abstract

Aim

To explore challenges facing nurse managers during and beyond coronavirus disease, 2019 (COVID‐19) pandemic and its relation to perceived organizational support.

Background

When faced with high‐pressure situations like the COVID‐19 pandemic, it is critical that nurse managers be equipped with the support they need to successfully surpass these hard times.

Methods

Descriptive correlational design was utilized. The study was conduct at different health care settings across Egypt. Convenience sampling technique was employed to recruit (214) nurse managers. Two instruments were used; questionnaire of challenges faced by nurse managers and survey of perceived organizational support. Mann–Whitney test, Kruskal–Wallis test, Spearman's correlation, and regression analysis were utilized.

Results

The highest percentage of managers reported being faced with high level of challenges. There was a highly statistically significant negative correlation between challenges currently faced by managers and their perception of organizational support.

Conclusion

The COVID‐19 pandemic had placed additional challenges on nurse managers and these challenges are expected to persist in the future. Higher perception of organizational support minimizes managers' perception of being challenged in times of pandemics.

Implications for Nursing Management

Better training focused on disaster management, ethical decision making, leading in times of uncertainty, and maintaining well‐being will help nurse managers lead better their teams.