Date of Conferral

2023

Degree

Ph.D.

School

Public Policy and Administration

Advisor

Mark Gordon

Abstract

The current phenomenological study explored the lived experience of Acting Chief Nursing Officers, Chief Nursing Officers, Chief Nursing Executives (henceforth CNOs) at hospitals in New York State who were charged with responding to executive orders while maintaining quality of patient care despite staffing constraints, inadequate supplies, or lack of additional support for the duties associated with their role. Their experience of structural empowerment in relation to the COVID-19 pandemic was also studied. The theoretical framework was Kanter’s theory of structural empowerment that addressed organizational behavior in the context of employee empowerment. The research question addressed how the CNOs perceived their lived experiences of structural empowerment and job satisfaction in relation to the COVID-19 pandemic, including organizational factors and leadership effectiveness. A purposive snowball sample of 10 CNOs was recruited for interviews. Data were collected from semistructured interviews of the CNOs, giving rise to 17 themes, a sample of which include challenging complications during COVID-19; perceptions of resource availability; role, responsibility and accountability; availability of PPE; COVID-19 creation of opportunity for advancement; executive orders’ impact and professional responses; psychosocial support importance and impact; rapid patient surge, loss, and effects; and senior leadership support. This study may contribute value for public policymakers to construct positive social change of supporting nurse leaders in responding to future healthcare crises. The hope is that this measure might foster other stakeholders such as nursing leaders and hospital administrators to follow in a uniform pattern. 

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