Perspectives of polish nurse managers on employment of Ukrainian war refugee nurses in polish healthcare settings: a qualitative descriptive study

Abstract Aim. The integration of Ukrainian war refugee nurses (UKR-N) into the European Union’s healthcare system presents many challenges due to the differences in the organization of the healthcare system and the system of undergraduate education of nurses. This study aims to explore the experiences of Polish nurse managers in employing UKR-N. Material and methods. In-depth interviews conducted from March 2022 to June 2023 with 9 nurse managers from healthcare institutions. Female participants (mean age: 42.2 and mean management experience: 11.2 years) were selected using a combination of convenience and snowball sampling methods. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews and analyzed using inductive thematic analysis. ATLAS.ti 8 software was employed for data management. Results. Three major themes were identified: I. Communication challenges in the workplace; II. Legal Frameworks and Employment Challenges; III. Integration into the Polish healthcare system. The three primary themes were broken down into six corresponding subthemes: 1. Language barriers and its impact on clinical practice, 2. Professional competence and safety, 3. Credential recognition and licensing process, 4. Process of adaptation to practice, 5. Navigating cross-cultural healthcare system challenges and 6. Future opportunities. Conclusions. The study provide nuanced insights into the complexities related to integrating UKR-N into the Polish healthcare system.