Managing nurse redeployment during the Covid-19 pandemic, lessons for future redeployment: A qualitative study

Area of Science:

• Healthcare Management
• Nursing Workforce Studies
• Public Health Emergencies

Background:

• The COVID-19 pandemic necessitated mass nurse redeployment globally, highlighting knowledge gaps in its management and impact.
• Ongoing staffing crises and surges continue to require nurse redeployment, underscoring the need for evidence-based practices.
• This study addresses critical evidence gaps to inform effective nurse redeployment strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the decision-making processes and managerial practices during nurse redeployment before and during the COVID-19 pandemic.
• To identify lessons learned for enhancing the management of current and future nurse redeployment initiatives.

Main Methods:

• A qualitative study employing semi-structured interviews and focus groups with 32 nurse managers and 4 HR advisors.
• Data collected from three diverse National Health Service (NHS) Trusts in England.
• Analysis utilized reflexive thematic analysis to identify key themes in nurse redeployment.

Main Results:

• Identified four phases of nurse redeployment, revealing a mismatch in decision-making responsibilities and inconsistent managerial approaches.
• Highlighted a disconnect within the nursing and managerial workforce, compounded by limited operational guidance.
• Nurse managers experienced significant logistical and emotional challenges, feeling "caught in the middle" between managerial and mentoring roles.

Conclusions:

• Nurse redeployment during the pandemic prioritized staffing numbers over individual well-being.
• Key principles from pandemic redeployment can improve future practices and support positive outcomes.
• A scalable, planned approach with operational guidance for staff redeployment is essential for the nursing workforce, even in non-crisis settings.