The Need for Speed: A Qualitative Study on Nurse Recruitment and Management Amidst the COVID-19 Pandemic in Indonesia

INTRODUCTION: Nursing workforce is a pivotal element in tackling the COVID-19 pandemic. However, this has not been comprehensively discussed, particularly in Indonesia. This study aimed to explore stakeholders’ perspectives on Indonesian nursing workforce recruitment and management during the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: This study employed a qualitative design with an exploratory descriptive approach. Stakeholders who recruited and managed nursing resources in Indonesia were involved. In-depth interviews and focus group discussions with stakeholders representing eight different institutions were undertaken. Data were analysed using thematic analysis. Eight key stakeholders were interviewed. RESULTS: Three themes emerged, namely uncertain recruitment system, nursing labour market situation, and workforce management dynamics. COVID-19 caused reduced workforce capacity and increased demands for health professionals, especially nurses. CONCLUSION: Uncertainty and volatility happened at the recruitment and management of nursing human resources during the pandemic. Stakeholders were not convinced of overall quality of local nurses recruited to care for COVID-19 patients given workforce was dominated by new graduates and nurses without specialistic qualifications. Employers gave new staff more training to ease their deployment to COVID-19 units to make up for the nurses’ lack of expertise and experience.