Challenges of Redeployment to ICU: A Qualitative Study Exploring Nurses' Experience During the Coronavirus Pandemic

The coronavirus pandemic placed significant stress on healthcare services globally, requiring rapid transformation to cope with critically ill patients. In many countries, including Ireland, staff redeployment to intensive care units was a core response.

To understand the experiences of nurses redeployed to intensive care units during the coronavirus pandemic and identify effective strategies for training and supporting nurses during future pandemics.

A qualitative descriptive study using semistructured interviews with 19 nurses recruited from two hospitals in the west of Ireland. The sample consisted of senior nurses/clinical facilitators in intensive care units (n = 4), nurses previously in intensive care units and redeployed back (n = 2), and nurses redeployed from other clinical areas (n = 13). Data were collected between January 2023 and February 2024 and analyzed using thematic analysis.

Five main themes were identified: redeployment of staff to intensive care units; training; emotional impact; effective communication and valuing nurses; and planning for the next pandemic. Many nurses experienced significant stress and anxiety initially but felt more confident with support and training. Clear communication, effective training and strong support systems were important. Clinical facilitators provided just-in-time, hands-on training and reassurance, helping to make the experience of working in intensive care units less daunting. Training for those new to intensive care units focused pragmatically on what was "good-to-know" versus "essential-to-know." Key findings highlight the importance of rapid, effective training, clear communication, and strong support systems, including psychological support.

Redeployment to intensive care units during the coronavirus pandemic had a significant professional and emotional impact on nurses. Despite challenges, nurses demonstrated resilience and strong commitment to patient care. The findings emphasize the need for pandemic preparedness planning, including regular skills maintenance, effective communication strategies, and robust professional and psychological support during a health emergency. Recognizing and valuing nurses' contributions is essential for fostering resilience, maintaining high quality clinical care and ensuring preparedness for future crises.