Nurse leadership in the context of a pandemic in hospital care: challenges, performance, and learning

Liderança do enfermeiro no contexto de pandemia na atenção hospitalar: desafios, atuação e aprendizagem

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.17765/2176-9206.2025v18e12006

Keywords:

Nurses, Leadership, Pandemic, COVID-19

Abstract

Objective: To analyze the role of nurses in the context of a pandemic in hospital care. Method: Qualitative, descriptive study, with the application of semi-structured interviews with 19 nurses who worked in strategic leadership positions during the pandemic in a university hospital in the Brazilian Central-West. Data were processed in the IraMuTeq software and subjected to thematic content analysis. Results: Six semantic classes were obtained and grouped into three thematic categories, namely, nurse leadership in a scenario of insecurities and uncertainties, nurse leadership characteristics in pandemic circumstances, and the role of the leader nurse in in-service learning. Conclusion: The results highlight the importance of nurses in leading healthcare processes in the face of the challenges imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic, requiring purposeful action in these circumstances, which was a driver of learning for proactive presence in other similar contexts.

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Author Biographies

Juliesse Fátima Silva da Rosa Santos, Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso

Graduated in NURSING from the INSTITUTE OF HIGHER EDUCATION OF MATO GROSSO (2016). He is currently a nursing technician at the Julio Muller University Hospital. He has experience in the area of ​​Nursing, with an emphasis on Nursing.

Vanessa Alves Mendes, Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso

PhD student in Nursing at the Federal University of Mato Grosso. Master in Regional Development and Environment from the Federal University of Rondônia. Specialist in Occupational Nursing from the Integrated Faculty of Várzea Grande. Graduated in Nursing from the Federal University of Mato Grosso. She has experience as a nurse in Primary Health Care (2015-2016) and as a professor at the Federal University of Mato Grosso / CUR (2013-2015) and Federal University of Rondônia (2016-2021). Currently, she is an adjunct professor of higher education in the Nursing Course at the Federal University of Rondonópolis (since 2021). Fapemat scholarship holder notice no. 004 / 2023 - doctorate with technological product.

Ana Caroline de Lara, Hospital Universitário Julio Mueller

Graduated in Nursing from the Federal University of Mato Grosso - UFMT / CUR (2013). Specialization in Urgency / Emergency and Intensive Care from the Goiano Center for Teaching, Research and Postgraduate Studies (2015). Master in Sciences Applied to Hospital Care from the Júlio Muller University Hospital (2022). Between 2015 and 2018, she was Technical Responsible (RT) in the Emergency Care service in Conquista D'Oeste-MT, where she also worked as a full-time nurse in the emergency and clinical observation sector; Worked in the management of rescue and first aid activities on roads (BRvidas APH). Currently, Nurse in the pediatric ward at the Júlio Müller University Hospital HUJM-UFMT and Head of the Child and Adolescent Unit - UCA (HUJM / EBSERH).

Dagmar Elaine Kaiser, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul

Associate Professor, working in the area of ​​Nursing Administration in Health Services of the Department of Assistance and Professional Guidance of the School of Nursing of the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS) since 1984. Coordinator of the Undergraduate Course in Nursing at UFRGS. Director of Education of the Brazilian Nursing Association - ABEn/RS. She holds a degree in Nursing from UFRGS (1977), a degree in Nursing Licentiate from UFRGS (1985), a specialization in Hospital Administration and Public Health from the University of Ribeirão Preto (1987), a specialization in Activation of Change Processes in Higher Education for Health Professionals from Fundação Osvaldo Cruz (2006), a specialization in Nursing in Dermatology from SOBENDE - Brazilian Association of Nursing in Dermatology (2018), a master's degree in Education Administration from the Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul (1992) and a doctorate from the Graduate Program in Nursing at UFRGS (2015). She is registered as a research professor in the Directory of Research Groups in Brazil, in the Research Group International Network of Policies and Practices in Education and Public Health (Rede Interstício), and the Pele a Fundo Research Line. She has experience in the area of ​​Nursing, with an emphasis on Nursing Management and Health in Primary Care, working mainly on the following topics: work processes in health and nursing in primary health care; bioethics; skin and dermatology nursing. Associate Editor and ad hoc reviewer of the Gaúcha de Enfermagem Journal. Editor-in-chief of the Pelle Sana Journal, from SOBENDE. Ad hoc reviewer of the Interface Journal - Communication, Health and Education.

Mara Regina Rosa Ribeiro, Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso

She holds a degree in Nursing and Obstetrics from the Federal University of Mato Grosso (1981), specializing in Management of Federal University Hospitals in the SUS and in Quality in Health and Patient Safety. She has a Master's degree in Nursing from the University of São Paulo (1995), and a PhD in Science from the School of Nursing at USP - University of São Paulo. She is a professor at the Federal University of Mato Grosso, Leader of the GEFOR Research Group - Management, Education and Training in Health and Nursing. She is an advisor in the Postgraduate Programs in Nursing - FAEN / UFMT. She develops research in the area of ​​​​Nursing Education and Nursing Management. She is a member of the RIIEE - Ibero-American Network for Research in Nursing Education, as a representative of the State of Mato Grosso.

Gímerson Erick Ferreira, Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso

Adjunct Professor at the School of Nursing of the Federal University of Mato Grosso (FAEn-UFMT), with an interdisciplinary background that integrates Nursing, Management, Education and Health. He holds a degree in Administration and Nursing, with specializations in related areas, a Master's and a Doctorate in Nursing. He is dedicated to the creation, prototyping and development of innovative interdisciplinary solutions for health services, through problem analysis and experience mapping. His work focuses on the creation of educational, managerial, assistance and technological strategies that aim to promote better experiences in user care and in the transition of care between the various points of contact with health services, with an emphasis on continuous improvement of services, innovation and continuity of care. To this end, he is guided by the creation and development of collaborative approaches that ensure comprehensive, safe and quality care experiences for patients and families, health professionals and managers. He works as a permanent professor in the Postgraduate Programs in Sciences Applied to Hospital Care (PPGCAAH), at the Júlio Müller University Hospital (HUJM), and in the Postgraduate Program in Nursing (PPGENF) at FAEn-UFMT. Leader of the GEFOR Research Group - Management, Education and Training in Health in Nursing, and researcher at the Interstício Network - A pele a fundo, he develops teaching, research and extension activities in the following themes: health and nursing management (with an emphasis on clinical management, entrepreneurship and innovation ecosystems); health and illness at work (focusing on the psychodynamic clinic of work); teaching in health (with a focus on the science of the mind, brain and education); experiments in design and technologies for educational and health innovation (Design Science); in addition to clinical management in dermatology and advanced and restorative aesthetics.

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Published

2025-09-03

How to Cite

Santos, J. F. S. da R., Mendes, V. A., Lara, A. C. de, Kaiser, D. E., Ribeiro, M. R. R., & Ferreira, G. E. (2025). Nurse leadership in the context of a pandemic in hospital care: challenges, performance, and learning: Liderança do enfermeiro no contexto de pandemia na atenção hospitalar: desafios, atuação e aprendizagem. Saúde E Pesquisa, 18, e12006. https://doi.org/10.17765/2176-9206.2025v18e12006

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Vol. 18 (2025)

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