Introduction:The advent of the COVID-19 pandemic necessitated the Botswana Presidential Task Force, in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and Wellness (MoHW), to devise strategies to utilize the already overburdened health personnel to combat the spread of the coronavirus. This descriptive case study aimed to describe nurses' role during COVID-19 in Botswana. Design and methods:A case study analysis was used to describe nurses' roles during COVID-19. Data were collected through observing events in various health facilities and various media platforms that described how nurses had to position themselves to combat the pandemic. Content analysis was done by coding and developing categories that put like content together and generate thematic areas.Results: Nurses from different sectors were redeployed to assist in setting up different units at the COVID-19 makeshift hospital, taking away from the already understaffed section of health care workers resulting in the overburden and work overload.Furthermore, nurses continued with their regular day-to-day nursing care duties in various healthcare settings, albeit under a severe shortage due to the national response to COVID-19. Conclusion:Adaptations and experiential strategies enabled the distribution of the nursing workforce to cover all locations to curb the spread of COVID-19 despite the challenges encountered. Recommendations and lessons learned on how to prepare for future pandemics are also discussed.Clinical relevance: Due to their large numbers, nurses formed the backbone of the Botswana COVID-19 response strategy. Therefore, policy-makers should be responsive to the nurses' perspectives when developing strategic policies on how to deal with pandemics based on their experiences.

The Botswana health care system once more engaged in a historic challenge of addressing and mitigating yet another pandemic-COVID-19; just like it did a few years ago when it was confronted with the HIV and AIDS pandemic. Both these pandemics have devastated the nation in a very unprecedented manner. The country has learned how to respond to and address a pandemic situation.Although COVID-19 did not cause more deaths than HIV and AIDS, it was more devastating because it was erratic and unpredictable in how it spread. It is very frustrating because this virus is spread from one person to the other through various sources, and a person does not know where they could have contacted it. This, therefore, necessitated creative, swift, and radical approaches in decision-making to respond to this crisis (Lee et al., 2020). Healthcare leaders were also required to respond innovatively to make changes and decisions that were effective and prudent within a minimal time frame.

Aim Nurses as front liners have direct contact with COVID‐19 patients during the pandemic. Carrying the heavy burden during the pandemic has a mental health toll on healthcare professionals. The study explored nurses' experiences of psychological distress during the COVID‐19 pandemic in Botswana's two COVID‐19 special care centres. Design The study used qualitative case study research to solicit nurses' experiences caring for patients with COVID‐19 in selected COVID‐19 centres in Gaborone. Method Researchers purposively recruited nurses from two COVID‐19 centres in Botswana. Data were collected using semi‐structured telephone interviews and analysed through inductive thematic analysis. Various institutional review boards ethically cleared the study. Results Six themes emerged from the thematic analysis: feelings of fear and anxiety, hopelessness and helplessness, loneliness, physical distress, support mechanism and commitment to care. Public Contribution The results offer important insights into the nurses' experiences during the COVI‐19 pandemic.