The COVID-19 pandemic as a stress test of the intensive care unit workforce

KEY POINTS:

• The intensive care unit (ICU) workforce is fundamentally interprofessional; structured rounds, and family engagement improved outcomes for critically ill patients.
• COVID-19 exposed vulnerabilities in ICU delivery, staffing, and organizational resilience, accelerating long-standing workforce and care model challenges.
• The pandemic worsened workforce shortages, especially among ICU nurses, with high burnout and trauma contributing to turnover and attrition.
• Effective responses included staffing innovations, virtual family engagement, rapid onboarding, and structured peer-support programs.
• Sustained progress requires investment in workforce development, clinician well-being, diversified staffing, and ICU-focused research.

Kathryn A Connell, Kelly C Vranas, Hyunmin Yu, Meeta Prasad Kerlin