The leadership experience of academic chief nurse administrators post pandemic

Background and objective: The impact of the COVID-19 global pandemic has been rated as one of the highest factors of nurse leaders to leave the profession, but limited research exists describing academic chief nurse administrators’ (ACNAs) leadership experiences during the pandemic as crisis leadership swept across academia in the United States. The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore the lived experiences of ACNAs in pre-licensure nursing programs in the state of Georgia serving on campus post-pandemic after temporary full virtual instruction and isolation during an ongoing worldwide pandemic.Methods: This Husserlian phenomenological qualitative study combined with Colaizzi’s method of data analysis included a demographic questionnaire and in-depth interviews with seven ACNAs throughout the state of Georgia.Results: Four themes emerged: ACNA Leadership and Challenges, Navigating Leadership Challenges and Obstacles, Managing Support and Work-Life Balance, and Reflection and Moving Forward.Conclusions: This study illuminated ACNAs’ strengths and weaknesses in academic leadership necessitating the need for further discussion, mentorship, development of leadership tools for future crises, and the need for collaboration with clinical nurse leaders.