Developing and validating a nursing strategic plan for COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract

Background: Although there were many cautions about a probable pandemic, the health organizations have not prepared to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic. Coronavirus outbreak is a dangerous threat to humanity. An essential concern to control this pandemic is to outline an action plan, set an evaluation frame, identify monitoring techniques, detect measures, and recognize key performance factors and investigations providing evidence-based information.

Methods: The descriptive and methodological design was used to achieve the objectives of the present study. This study was conducted at Zagazig University Hospitals (ZUH’s), Egypt. Three types of samples were used: A convenience sample (n = 110) including the nursing leaders, a stratified proportionate random sample (n = 302) from different categories of nurses, and a Jury committee (n = 9). One 1Questionnaire format and 2 opinionnaire sheets were utilized for data collection.

Results: Statistically significant differences were found between nurses and nursing leaders concerning the dimensions of vision (p-value .000), mission (p-value .006), SWOT analysis (p-value .008), goals and objectives (p-value .000), the lines of business (p-value .000), the strategic business units (p-value .000), general strategic items(p-value .013), and action plan (role of nursing staff during the epidemic, p-value .000; immediate evacuation system, p-value .000; training, and hospital status during the epidemic, p-value .000; availability of the necessary equipment, supplies, and tools to face the epidemic and consumables, p-value .000; precautions inside the hospital, p-value .010; and infection control, p-value .002). However, there was no significant difference between nurses and nursing leaders regarding dimensions of planning for the planning, values, the key performance indicators, and the evaluation of the nursing strategic plan for COVID-19.

Conclusion and recommendations: The questionnaire format of assessing nurses’ awareness about the nursing strategic plan for COVID-19 is reliable, valid, and usable. Nurses’ awareness about a nursing strategic plan for COVID-19 was generally poor and needs to be raised. The nursing strategic plan for COVID-19 was developed and validated. The suggested strategic plan for COVID-19should be utilized at ZUH's. ZUH's should allocate the needed and required resources for the application of the recommended plan for overcoming COVID-19 or any future occurrences.