Exploring critical care nurses' experiences of redeployment to general medical-surgical wards for covering staff shortages: A qualitative research study.

Abstract

Background: The impact of redeployment on staff was not widely recognized before the COVID-19 pandemic. The redeployment of critical care nurses is frequently employed in health care organizations as a last-minute staffing management approach without proper infrastructure. Studies exploring the feelings and experiences of redeployed critical care nurses in this manner are sparse.

Aim: The aim of this study was to develop an understanding of the experiences of critical care nurses during their redeployment to cover shifts in the general wards.

Study design: This study adopted a qualitative research design to explore critical care nurses' experiences of redeployment. Ten critical care nurses attending a postgraduate critical care course in one university were recruited between January and April 2019. Data were collected using a focus group which was thematically analysed.

Results: Three themes were identified: 'challenges in transitioning to ward settings', 'concerns regarding patient safety and satisfaction' and 'insufficient infrastructure and support'. Participants expressed concerns about patient and staff safety during redeployment, describing feelings of anxiety and undervaluation.

Conclusions: The study illuminates the intricate challenges experienced by redeployed critical care nurses, highlighting the crucial need for comprehensive support, targeted training and strategic planning to safeguard patients' care and nurses' well-being during periods of staff shortages in health care settings. These findings emphasize the importance of proactive measures in fostering a resilient and adaptable health care workforce. This is a small study involving only one focus group of 10 critical care nurses, which may limit the transferability of the findings. As a result, the findings may not fully reflect the experiences of critical care nurses from other sites.

Relevance to clinical practice: The study reveals that critical care nurses experience challenges and stress when redeployed to general wards because of insufficient support and infrastructure. It emphasizes the need for comprehensive strategies, such as job rotation, tailored training and collaborative efforts to address redeployment challenges. Research could focus on developing and testing different models of job rotation between critical care and general wards, evaluating their impact on nurse satisfaction, confidence, competence and overall experience. The findings highlight the importance of organizational support, leadership and local guidelines for effective teamwork. Conducting longitudinal studies to track the experiences of redeployed critical care nurses over an extended period would be beneficial. This approach would provide insights into the long-term effects of redeployment on job satisfaction, burnout and retention.