Deployed at sea amidst the pandemic: Insights from 30 United States Navy nurses

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) presented unique challenges to the United States Navy given that the major components of controlling an infectious disease outbreak are not easily achieved on ships. To understand shipboard Navy nurses’ activities during the COVID-19 pandemic. Virtual semistructured interviews were conducted in 2021 with 30 Navy nurses who deployed to sea during the pandemic. Data were coded using directed content analyses whereby remarks were categorized according to 16 public health interventions (PHIs) of the Minnesota Department of Health Intervention Wheel. Data were also coded via conventional content analysis. Multiple PHIs were utilized to improve the public health of those on Navy ships during the height of the pandemic. Also, four themes were constructed via conventional content analysis. Shipboard Navy nurses overcame unprecedented challenges to protect the health of their crew, all the while preserving operational readiness during the COVID-19 pandemic. •Coronavirus disease 2019 presented unique challenges to the United States Navy.•Virtual semistructured interviews were conducted in 2021 with 30 Navy nurses.•Both directed and conventional content analysis were used to explore the data.•Shipboard Navy nurses preserved operational readiness during the pandemic.