'Most nurses in the rural or remote health clinics run away from their job due to no remote allowances and poor working equipment and environment'. Health professional leaders' perception of shortages in the nursing workforce in underserved areas in Vanuatu.

INTRODUCTION: Health professional leaders are key informants working at senior levels in various health facilities in the areas of policies and planning processes, and human resources. This study explores the factors affecting the nursing shortage in Vanuatu and recommends measures and interventions to resolve the shortage. METHODS: A qualitative study was used to collect data from 12 health professional leaders using focus group discussion in three randomly selected hospitals in Vanuatu. The qualitative data were collected using a semi-structured, open-ended questionnaire and were audio-recorded. The data were translated and transcribed, and then analysed using thematic analysis. RESULTS: Four themes were identified: inadequate planning, increased population growth, nurse turnover and proposed strategies to resolve nursing shortages. Subthemes for inadequate planning were inadequate policy and human resources planning, and inadequate enrolment. Subthemes for increased population growth were demographics and burden of disease. Subthemes for nurse turnover were job dissatisfaction, absenteeism and increased medical problems. Subthemes for proposed strategies to resolve the nursing shortage were increased enrolment, infrastructure and capacity building. CONCLUSION: The present study identified key factors affecting current nursing workforce shortages and the recommended measures and interventions to resolve nursing shortages. The findings will assist policymakers to refine and develop relevant policies to address and strengthen the Vanuatu Ministry of Health nursing workforce.