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

Lianne Jeffs; Jacqueline Limoges; Tracey Das Gupta; Lisa Di Prospero; Alexandra Harris; Jane Merkley; Benjamin Rosen; Morgann Reid; Megha Rao; Agnes Black; Rui Lin Zeng; Linda McGillis Hall

doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2024-091922

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

Lianne Jeffs, Jacqueline Limoges, Tracey Das Gupta, Lisa Di Prospero, Alexandra Harris, Jane Merkley, Benjamin Rosen, Morgann Reid, Megha Rao, Agnes Black, Rui Lin Zeng, Linda McGillis Hall

Faculty of Health Disciplines

Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal Article › peer-review

Abstract

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 experienced 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.

Original language	English
Article number	e091922
Journal	BMJ Open
Volume	15
Issue number	6
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2024-091922
Publication status	Published - 26 Jun. 2025

Keywords

HEALTH SERVICES ADMINISTRATION & MANAGEMENT
Health Services
Health Workforce
Human resource management
Organisation of health services
Quality in health care

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

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10.1136/bmjopen-2024-091922

Cite this

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title = "How did staffing strategies change amid COVID-19 and post pandemic? A qualitative study",

abstract = "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 experienced 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.",

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doi = "10.1136/bmjopen-2024-091922",

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T1 - How did staffing strategies change amid COVID-19 and post pandemic? A qualitative study

AU - Jeffs, Lianne

AU - Limoges, Jacqueline

AU - Gupta, Tracey Das

AU - Prospero, Lisa Di

AU - Harris, Alexandra

AU - Merkley, Jane

AU - Rosen, Benjamin

AU - Reid, Morgann

AU - Rao, Megha

AU - Black, Agnes

AU - Zeng, Rui Lin

AU - McGillis Hall, Linda

N1 - Publisher Copyright: © Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2025.

PY - 2025/6/26

Y1 - 2025/6/26

N2 - 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 experienced 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.

AB - 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 experienced 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.

KW - HEALTH SERVICES ADMINISTRATION & MANAGEMENT

KW - Health Services

KW - Health Workforce

KW - Human resource management

KW - Organisation of health services

KW - Quality in health care

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U2 - 10.1136/bmjopen-2024-091922

DO - 10.1136/bmjopen-2024-091922

M3 - Journal Article

C2 - 40578857

AN - SCOPUS:105009257082

VL - 15

JO - BMJ Open

JF - BMJ Open

IS - 6

M1 - e091922

ER -

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

Abstract

Keywords

UN SDGs

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