“…Past viral outbreaks, such as severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) and Ebola, have highlighted the level of exposure nursing staff experience to both the disease and associated stressful stimuli, which often results in high levels of systemic burnout and chronic psychological distress (Maunder et al, 2004, McAlonan et al, 2007, Ulrich et al, 2014, Lee, Hong & Park, 2020, Vera San Juan et al, 2021. Likewise, investigations into the effects of natural disasters on nurses have highlighted many areas that have been impacted by these sudden drastic changes to their roles (Xue et al, 2020). Understanding how nursing staff are affected by changes in the delivery of care in exceptional circumstances is important to inform how the leadership of organisational change in a crisis can be managed so as to protect nurses' emotional wellbeing whilst also ensuring the safe delivery of care (Chaudhry & Raza, 2020, Nyashanu, Pfende, & Ekpenyong, 2020, Vindrola-Padros et al,2020, Vera San Juan et al, 2020, Aughterson et al, 2021, Hoernke et al, 2021, Regenold & Vindrola-Padros, 2021.…”