• Victoria K Marshall, Melody Chavez, Tina M Mason, and Dinorah Martinez-Tyson.
• College of Nursing, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida, USA.
• J Nurs Manag. 2021 Sep 1; 29 (6): 1375-1384.

AimTo explore oncology health care professionals' perceptions of the COVID-19 pandemic response.BackgroundThe pandemic has created health care delivery challenges globally and many countries have exhibited low readiness and emergency preparedness.MethodsA descriptive design using a qualitative approach was employed. Semi-structured interviews, which were completed via telephone, were audio recorded and transcribed verbatim. A thematic analysis was conducted.ResultsParticipants (N = 30) were mostly registered nurses (70%). Three themes emerged: (1) ability to adapt and operationalize disaster planning, training and restructure nursing models (subtheme: reactive vs. proactive approach to emergency preparedness); (2) COVID-19 task forces and professional organisations were critical for valid information surrounding the pandemic; and (3) recommendations for emergency preparedness/planning for future pandemics.ConclusionOncology organisations adapted during the pandemic, but policies and procedures were perceived as reactive and not proactive. Recommendations for planning for future pandemics included (1) adequate personal protective equipment, (2) developing cancer-specific guidelines/algorithms and (3) telehealth training related to billing/reimbursement. Professional organisations were reliable resources of information during the pandemic, but oncology professionals ultimately trusted employers and administration to distribute information needed for safe patient care.Implications For Nursing ManagementFrontline nurses should hold positions on task forces to develop future emergency preparedness.© 2021 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

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