Recruitment of Ukrainian refugee-background nurses. Challenges for recruitment agencies during the refugee crisis in Poland – a qualitative descriptive study

Abstract Aim. The present paper aims to explore the challenges faced by employment agencies when recruiting Ukrainian refugee-background nurses (UKR-N) during the Ukrainian war refugee crisis in Poland, after the outbreak of war in February 2022. Material and methods. Data were collected through semi-structured, in-depth interviews conducted in Poland with two representatives of one recruitment agency between May and July 2023. There were two female participants, one of Polish origin and one of Ukrainian origin. The data were analyzed using inductive thematic analysis. The ATLAS.ti 8 software was used for data management. Results. Two themes were identifi ed: 1. Business-as-usual factors determining the eff ectiveness of international nurse recruitment and 2. Issues specifi c to the recruitment of Ukrainian refugee nurses. These two themes were further subdivided into six subthemes. Conclusions. Recruitment agencies have an obligation to adopt a comprehensive approach to the recruitment of this group of applicants. In addition, the inappropriate recruitment of refugee-background nurses by recruitment agencies (RAs), which may lead to abuse and exploitation, violates fundamental human rights, and should be universally condemned and strongly discouraged.