How did staffing strategies change amid COVID-19 and post pandemic? A qualitative study.

Objectives And Design: A qualitative study was undertaken to explore the nature of staffing strategies from the perspectives of nursing, medicine and health disciplines employed in a hospital setting.

Setting: Interviews were conducted in six hospitals in Canada between November 2022 and September 2023.

Results: 118 healthcare professionals and leaders who experience changes in staffing strategies participated in this study. Three themes emerged to describe new or adaptive staffing strategies: (1) valuing new roles and teams; (2) being redeployed; and (3) enhancing coverage.

Conclusions: Our study elucidates the staffing strategies that were employed during the COVID-19 pandemic that included creating new and adapting existing roles and teams; redeploying healthcare professionals; and enhancing coverage. Study findings can be used to guide leaders to use a proactive systematic approach to staffing models that includes adaptable and flexible staffing models within local contexts.