The Experiences and Lessons Learned by Clinical Nursing Managers During COVID-19 Pandemic in Iran: A Qualitative Content Analysis

 It is crucial to pay attention to the lessons learned and consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic to inform future planning. Evaluating the effectiveness of implemented plans can help healthcare teams prepare for similar future situations and identify areas of strength and weakness.

 This study aimed to explain the experiences and lessons learned by clinical nurse managers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Iran.

 This qualitative study was conducted in Tehran, Iran, in 2021, using the conventional content analysis method on a sample of 22 senior nurse managers who were selected through purposive sampling until data saturation was achieved. The main objective of the present study was to explore the experiences and lessons learned by clinical nurse managers from the COVID-19 pandemic. The data were collected by semi-structured interviews and analyzed using the Graneheim and Lundman conventional content analysis method. Lincoln and Guba's reliability criteria were used to achieve the accuracy and reliability of the data.

 After analyzing the data, 316 primary codes were extracted and categorized into 6 main categories and 16 subcategories. The main categories were (1) talent dynamics: Strategies for effective workforce management; (2) ensuring safety: Effective practices for personal protective equipment (PPE) management; (3) patient-centered excellence: Optimizing care delivery strategies; (4) empowering family engagement: Enhancing support in health care, (5) building resilient communities: Effective, risk communication management in the society, and (6) unveiling the digital realm: Exploring virtual experiences.

 A practical solution for preparing for unknown conditions, such as the emergence of a pandemic, is to use previously recorded experiences and lessons learned. The insights gained from the experiences of clinical nurse managers, as extracted in this study, can serve as a foundation for decision-makers and nursing policymakers in planning, preparing, and empowering nurses for similar incidents and disasters in the future.