Introduction: Nepal’s unique topography and climate make it highly susceptible to natural disasters, and the COVID-19 pandemic introduced a new dimension of health emergencies. This report reflects on the author’s leadership experiences as a COVID-19 focal person in the government office of Kathmandu, Nepal while also examining the broader role of nursing in managing the pandemic.

Approaches: A narrative approach is employed, drawing extensively on the author’s firsthand experiences and observations as the designated COVID-19 focal person in Kathmandu, Nepal. To support the findings, data from relevant government reports and records from the Health Office in Kathmandu were incorporated.

Activities: A comprehensive strategy was implemented to manage the COVID-19 crisis in Kathmandu, Nepal. Key initiatives included conducting public awareness programs, establishing health desks at entry points, effectively managing quarantine facilities, building the capacity of the health workforce, mobilizing rapid response teams, and coordinating case investigation and contact tracing efforts. Additionally, the establishment of call centers for home isolation support, provision of psychosocial counseling services, and logistics management were crucial. Training for ambulance drivers, regular monitoring and supervision of entry points, quarantine and isolation centers, vaccine management, and addressing oxygen demands were also integral to the response. Nurses served as disaster management focal persons, coordinators, frontline workers, and providers of both clinical and supportive care. Despite these efforts, several challenges were encountered, including inadequate skilled human resources, lack of support from families and communities, insufficient logistical supplies, coordination difficulties, and the necessity for continuous adaptation to evolving pandemic conditions.

Discussion: The active involvement of nurses in various roles, such as leadership, governance, surveillance, outbreak investigation, coordination, and collaboration has proven to be crucial. This underscores the critical importance of nursing leadership in managing disasters and pandemics, particularly in resource-limited settings. The report emphasizes the necessity of robust healthcare systems, ongoing capacity building, and effective coordination mechanisms to ensure a comprehensive response to health crises. Additionally, successful pandemic management requires thorough field epidemiology training and a high level of self-motivation among healthcare professionals.

Conclusion: Nursing leadership is crucial in pandemic management, and the scope of disaster nursing should be expanded to include a more comprehensive approach to public health emergencies.