COVID-19’s Impact on Nurses’ Workplace Rituals

Rituals are milestones that acknowledge moments and mark new beginnings, significant transitions, and milestones to separate one state of mind from another. The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted nurses’ workplace rituals and the loss of rituals weakens our ability to retain staff, support contentment at work, and sustain a sense of belonging in the clinical arena. Because rituals require a leader, nurse leaders can bring rituals into the workplace to support performance and engagement. We have the opportunity to lead ritual rebuilding following ritual disruption. With this intention we gathered to understand our rituals and plan a way forward.