Nursing Leadership in a Post-Pandemic Elective Orthopaedic Theatre Department: A Detailed Thematic Analysis of an Open-Ended Qualitative Survey

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted nursing theatre staff, departmental activity, and delivery of services to patients. This work-based project aimed to investigate the challenges of nursing leadership in an elective orthopaedic department at current times. Methods: The study collected qu...

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Main Authors: Carlo Biz, Lisa Buffon, Davide Scapinello, Sean Semple, Elisa Belluzzi, Ron Batash, Pietro Ruggieri
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-06-01
Series:Nursing Reports
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2039-4403/14/3/116
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author Carlo Biz
Lisa Buffon
Davide Scapinello
Sean Semple
Elisa Belluzzi
Ron Batash
Pietro Ruggieri
author_facet Carlo Biz
Lisa Buffon
Davide Scapinello
Sean Semple
Elisa Belluzzi
Ron Batash
Pietro Ruggieri
author_sort Carlo Biz
collection DOAJ
description Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted nursing theatre staff, departmental activity, and delivery of services to patients. This work-based project aimed to investigate the challenges of nursing leadership in an elective orthopaedic department at current times. Methods: The study collected qualitative data exploring theatre staff’s expectations from leadership, offering insight on how the pandemic has influenced the way of working and exploring how the future in this unit may look. The answers from 20 practitioners to an anonymised open-ended survey were examined using thematic analysis. Results: The participants described a leader as a good communicator who focuses on empowering others and supporting the team, identified by the majority as a senior team member. From the findings, three topics were identified: immediate changes, delayed changes, and pre-existing conditions. The answers painted a reality that is complex and multifaceted, where numerous variables play a part in the physical and mental health of each candidate, impacting their performance as well as their work/life balance. Overall, the strongest subjects recurring in the findings were the need for nursing leadership to focus on supporting staff with training opportunities, to actively plan for a reduction in staffing shortages, and to be constantly mindful of staff well-being. Conclusions: This study pointed out that the need for constant communication with their staff, building honest relationships, and being a reliable leader, focused on empowering others and supporting the team were important factors for the nursing management during the COVID-19 pandemic and post-COVID-19 era.
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spelling doaj-art-eb225faed9b24e88bc2c9bdb468076982025-08-20T01:55:45ZengMDPI AGNursing Reports2039-439X2039-44032024-06-011431541155210.3390/nursrep14030116Nursing Leadership in a Post-Pandemic Elective Orthopaedic Theatre Department: A Detailed Thematic Analysis of an Open-Ended Qualitative SurveyCarlo Biz0Lisa Buffon1Davide Scapinello2Sean Semple3Elisa Belluzzi4Ron Batash5Pietro Ruggieri6Orthopaedics and Orthopaedic Oncology, Department of Surgery, Oncology and Gastroenterology DiSCOG, University of Padova, Via Giustiniani 3, 35128 Padua, ItalyKing’s College Hospital, Orpington Elective Orthopaedic Theatres, Denmark Hill, London SE5 9RS, UKOrthopaedics and Orthopaedic Oncology, Department of Surgery, Oncology and Gastroenterology DiSCOG, University of Padova, Via Giustiniani 3, 35128 Padua, ItalyGuy’s Hospital, Main Theatres, Great Maze Pond, London SE1 9RT, UKOrthopaedics and Orthopaedic Oncology, Department of Surgery, Oncology and Gastroenterology DiSCOG, University of Padova, Via Giustiniani 3, 35128 Padua, ItalyOrthopaedics and Orthopaedic Oncology, Department of Surgery, Oncology and Gastroenterology DiSCOG, University of Padova, Via Giustiniani 3, 35128 Padua, ItalyOrthopaedics and Orthopaedic Oncology, Department of Surgery, Oncology and Gastroenterology DiSCOG, University of Padova, Via Giustiniani 3, 35128 Padua, ItalyBackground: The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted nursing theatre staff, departmental activity, and delivery of services to patients. This work-based project aimed to investigate the challenges of nursing leadership in an elective orthopaedic department at current times. Methods: The study collected qualitative data exploring theatre staff’s expectations from leadership, offering insight on how the pandemic has influenced the way of working and exploring how the future in this unit may look. The answers from 20 practitioners to an anonymised open-ended survey were examined using thematic analysis. Results: The participants described a leader as a good communicator who focuses on empowering others and supporting the team, identified by the majority as a senior team member. From the findings, three topics were identified: immediate changes, delayed changes, and pre-existing conditions. The answers painted a reality that is complex and multifaceted, where numerous variables play a part in the physical and mental health of each candidate, impacting their performance as well as their work/life balance. Overall, the strongest subjects recurring in the findings were the need for nursing leadership to focus on supporting staff with training opportunities, to actively plan for a reduction in staffing shortages, and to be constantly mindful of staff well-being. Conclusions: This study pointed out that the need for constant communication with their staff, building honest relationships, and being a reliable leader, focused on empowering others and supporting the team were important factors for the nursing management during the COVID-19 pandemic and post-COVID-19 era.https://www.mdpi.com/2039-4403/14/3/116COVID-19nursingnursing leadershiporthopaedic surgerypost-pandemicqualitative survey
spellingShingle Carlo Biz
Lisa Buffon
Davide Scapinello
Sean Semple
Elisa Belluzzi
Ron Batash
Pietro Ruggieri
Nursing Leadership in a Post-Pandemic Elective Orthopaedic Theatre Department: A Detailed Thematic Analysis of an Open-Ended Qualitative Survey
Nursing Reports
COVID-19
nursing
nursing leadership
orthopaedic surgery
post-pandemic
qualitative survey
title Nursing Leadership in a Post-Pandemic Elective Orthopaedic Theatre Department: A Detailed Thematic Analysis of an Open-Ended Qualitative Survey
title_full Nursing Leadership in a Post-Pandemic Elective Orthopaedic Theatre Department: A Detailed Thematic Analysis of an Open-Ended Qualitative Survey
title_fullStr Nursing Leadership in a Post-Pandemic Elective Orthopaedic Theatre Department: A Detailed Thematic Analysis of an Open-Ended Qualitative Survey
title_full_unstemmed Nursing Leadership in a Post-Pandemic Elective Orthopaedic Theatre Department: A Detailed Thematic Analysis of an Open-Ended Qualitative Survey
title_short Nursing Leadership in a Post-Pandemic Elective Orthopaedic Theatre Department: A Detailed Thematic Analysis of an Open-Ended Qualitative Survey
title_sort nursing leadership in a post pandemic elective orthopaedic theatre department a detailed thematic analysis of an open ended qualitative survey
topic COVID-19
nursing
nursing leadership
orthopaedic surgery
post-pandemic
qualitative survey
url https://www.mdpi.com/2039-4403/14/3/116
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