"Were we prepared?" Perceptions of a nursing school community toward crisis moments

This article examines the perceptions of a nursing school community toward the impact of COVID-19 on its members’ personal and professional lives. Descriptive exploratory study with a qualitative approach. A purposive sample was selected from the academic community of a higher education nursing school in Portugal. Data were collected through focus groups and analyzed using content analysis techniques. Twenty-seven (73%) participants were women and 10 (27%) were men, with a mean age of 50.1 years. The perceived impact category emerged from the content analysis of the academic community’s perceptions of the impact of the COVID-19 restrictive measures. The following subcategories also emerged: Institutional, Teaching-Learning, Professional life, Personal life, and Work-Life balance. The study’s significance lies in its comprehensive view of pandemic effects on an academic community but acknowledges limitations, including sample specificity and potential biases. Overall, it underscores COVID-19’s multidimensional impact on academic life, emphasizing the need for adaptive strategies in educational and personal spheres amidst ongoing challenges. These findings contribute to reformulating policies and implementing strategies related to higher education management, distance learning, and the work-life balance of both faculty and staff.