Abstract | Trial by Fire: Working with Media During the COVID-19 Mask Mandate

Early in the COVID-19 pandemic, the crisis facing health care organizations elevated nurses in the media. Across the country, we saw the strife nurses faced and their bravery in caring for patients. Nurses played a prominent role in the pandemic response and became a symbol of hope and heroism. As the new chief nursing officer for my facility, I was quickly thrust into the spotlight to give news updates about what was happening with hospital staff. In addition, I was providing up-to-date information about the evolving crisis and how the community could help to mitigate the spread. In a short period of time, I learned how to respond to media requests, developing ways to engage journalists in delivering valuable messages to the public. But these news reports had detractors; dealing with critics or hostile interviewers became a necessary skill. In this article, I will share my experience engaging the media as a nurse leader, building connections and some lessons learned. 

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