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Table 2 Categories and sub-categories extracted from the data

From: Exploring nursing managers’ perceptions of nursing workforce management during the outbreak of COVID-19: a content analysis study

Main category

Sub-category

Semantic unit

Management of workforce recruitment

Volunteer workforces

calling volunteers from other wards, hospitals, cities, and other provinces, employing non-specialist volunteer workforces

Non-volunteer workforces

moving nurses between wards, recruiting contract and temporary staff, extension of contractual forces, speeding up the recruitment process for those who passed the selection test

Management of workforce arrangement

Flexible work schedule

relocating pregnant or lactating forces, moving forces with underlying disease, moving forces treated with immunosuppressive drugs or family members, dynamic adjustment of shift work schedules

Rearrangement of workforce

combine of new and experienced workforces, adjust the number and proportion of the workforce

Management of workforce retention

Preventive measures

provide training in various ways, provide PPE, evaluate and monitor the correct use of PPE, reduce unnecessary exposure, eliminate combined shifts, increase the off-time between shifts, eliminate mandatory overtimes, reduce monthly working hours, separate the spaces, identify COVID nurses in emergency departments, assign codes to patients with suspected respiratory symptoms, nutritional management, pavilion, and restroom management, allocation of a dedicated place for quarantine of affected personnel, officials as a role model in the correct use of PPE.

Motivational measures

The strong presence of managers in the field, more cooperation with staff, leadership alongside management, close communication between officials and staff, financial incentives, public donations; charities; public and private institutions, presenting the appreciation of public and officials to employees, allocation of working hours coefficient, the promise of leave

Psychological support

the possibility of relocation for anxious staff, non-compulsory work in the COVID department, providing psychological counseling, playing happy songs in the ward, live concert performance, creating an intimate atmosphere in the ward