Coping with COVID-19. Work life experiences of nursing, midwifery and paramedic academics: An international interview study

•The pandemic impacted on academic ways of working, workload, and well-being.•Online teaching imposed a distance between academic and student.•Working from home resulted in a sense of isolation from colleagues.•Academics stayed connected, saw the big picture, used experience and exercised.•Flexibility and personal contact reassured students.