The COVID-19 pandemic has changed our lives in a variety of unprecedented and unpredictable ways. The threat of serious illness to self and others, the need for physical distancing, and learning to cope in new ways while still tending to the competing demands of family, work, and myriad other responsibilities can take a significant toll on our overall health and well-being, leaving us to reimagine everything.
As the pandemic surged, many schools discontinued in-person classes and clinical experiences and moved courses to online and other distance-education modalities. Some health care agencies disallowed nursing students from entering the clinical environment because, in part, of a critical lack of personal protective equipment and the need to limit the number of people in the patient care areas. At the same time, nursing students, newly licensed nurses, and retired nurses returning to the workforce were critically needed. Physical and social distancing and sheltering-in-place became part of our daily lexicon. We wondered how long the pandemic would last, worried when a resurgence might occur, and pondered the pandemic's long-term societal and financial effects.
Our academic workplaces and learning environments look different now. Many educators teach from home, and our classrooms reside in a virtual world. Faculty and students teach and learn remotely using technologies that they never used before. Many in-person nursing conferences have been canceled, professional gatherings and research initiatives have been interrupted, and the institutions we traditionally rely upon for support, community, stress relief, and fun are unavailable to us. Our inability to gather, socialize, and physically embrace has contributed to feelings of helplessness, anxiety, and confusion. These and other pandemic-associated issues can result in heightened levels of stress and, in some cases, lead to acts of incivility. Therefore, participating in personal wellness activities is essential to decrease stress and improve overall health.
Likewise, tending to organizational health and wellness must not be ignored. In a climate of uncertainty and unpredictability, having all members of the academic community recommit to collegiality and civility is more important than ever. Civility means showing genuine regard for the dignity, perspectives, and well-being of others; exhibiting honorable character; and demonstrating responsible citizenship. Civility does not imply the absence of conflict or blind conformity; instead, civility means disagreements are restricted to the issue itself while continuing to respect the person with whom we disagree. Ultimately, civility is a choice-a decision we make every day during each encounter and interaction.
Nurse leaders play a pivotal role in fostering civility by setting a compelling vision and a positive course for the future. Surviving and thriving in any crisis begins with a vision for what is possible. Effective leaders focus on the way forward by setting a course for a better tomorrow, strategizing ways to get there, and creating new "best practices" that will revolutionize nursing education.
In healthy academic workplaces, members of the campus community embody the institutional mission; model the values of integrity, inclusion, diversity, and civility; and implement charters that include co-created norms that provide structure for interacting and communicating respectfully with one another. In the same way, co-creating norms with students is as important as it has ever been-perhaps even more so given the changing educational environment. Co-created norms provide a "touchstone" for students, faculty, and clinical partners and provide a framework for working, collaborating, and learning together. They are a potent reminder of expected ethical and professional behaviors required for all areas of nursing.
Creating a civil workplace means self-monitoring our behavior and reflecting before acting, speaking, or sending an email that might be misinterpreted. Adopting a positive mindset and solution-driven approaches, relying on facts rather than assumptions, modeling civility, and seeking to master the traits for which you wish to be known now, and in the future, go far in building a healthy work environment. Staying in touch, having frequent check-ins, and sharing challenges and wins can help everyone navigate this challenging time in a more productive way. Keeping our interactions civil by validating, empathizing, and offering support and encouragement creates community and a collaborative spirit. As we reimagine everything, let us remember to extend goodwill as we envision and create the future of nursing education together.