Latest news with #InternationalCouncilofNurses
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Scarthingwell's Highfield Care Home observes International Nurses Day
Residents and staff at Highfield Care Home in Scarthingwell, Tadcaster, celebrated International Nurses Day recently. The annual day, which coincides with the birthday of Florence Nightingale, was held on Monday (May 12). This year, the theme of International Nurses Day was 'Our Nurses. Our Future,' with the International Council of Nurses wishing to promote the importance of nurses' health and wellness given the importance of their function in society. Anne, who lives at Highfield Care Home, said: "I used to be a nurse and I know how tiring the job is - there is so much more to think about. "The staff here spend so much time and energy looking after us. "It's been lovely to show just how much we appreciate them. "They do a smashing job." Highfield Care Home is run by Barchester Healthcare and provides residential care and dementia care.
Observer
13-05-2025
- Health
- Observer
Alarm over ‘inequities' in global nursing
Every year on May 12, countries around the world come together to celebrate Nurses Day, recognising the profession's significant impact on the economy, society, and culture. This day also promotes the acceptance, support and inclusion of nurses on a global scale. Established formally in 1965, the observance was further solidified in 1974 when May 12 was designated as the fixed date to coincide with the birthday of Florence Nightingale, widely regarded as the pioneer of modern nursing. Over the years, this day has grown and evolved into a global event. Not only did Florence Nightingale set standards for healthcare and nursing in medical camps and hospitals during the Crimean War, but she also established a nursing school in 1860 to provide training for aspiring nurses and healthcare workers. This year, the day was observed under the theme 'Our Nurses. Our Future: Caring for Nurses Strengthens Economies,' which highlights the importance of promoting the support to the patient's family. True to their calling, nurses stand by individuals during the most vulnerable moments of life. When a crisis occurs and the feelings strike and you can't care for yourself, nurses are there to care for you. They dedicate themselves to those in greatest need, regardless of the risks involved. Apart from their roles as health professionals, they also offer emotional support to the patient's family. Frequently, they assume the roles of a friend, sibling, neighbour or someone who is always available to address questions or concerns. They are usually the best cheerleader and support system patients have! They listen to patients and assess their physical, emotional, cultural, mental and spiritual needs. In the current healthcare system, nurses are among the most trusted healthcare professionals and play a significant role in the treatment and medical care of the sick. Nurses contribute immensely to our lives. As they assist in bringing new life into the world, we should celebrate them not only for their extensive skills and capabilities but also for the dedication and hard work they invest to make it all possible. As the backbone of healthcare, nurses should be granted positions of greater influence - particularly in the areas of quality care, health policy planning and management, wellness promotion and efficiency improvement. According to the State of the World's Nursing 2025 report, published by the World Health Organization in partnership with the International Council of Nurses, the global nursing workforce has increased to 29.8 million in 2023, up from 27.9 million in 2018. The report emphasises the critical importance of a healthy nursing workforce in delivering high-quality care, enhancing healthcare systems, and bolstering economic resilience on a global scale. The report suggests that the global nursing shortfall could approach 4.5 million practitioners by the year 2030. At the same time, the report reveals intricate disparities between and among countries, regions, and socio-economic contexts. 'Inequities in the global nursing workforce leave a significant portion of the world's population without access to essential health services, which could jeopardise progress toward universal health coverage and health-related development goals,' the report states. Mental health and workforce well-being continue to be significant concerns. Only 42 per cent of responding countries have established provisions for supporting nurses' mental health, despite the increased workloads and trauma experienced during and since the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic. During this period of devastation, nurses constituted the majority of the medical workforce. They played a crucial role during the pandemic as frontline workers in patient care within hospitals and were actively engaged in evaluating and monitoring the community. They demonstrated remarkable courage, adaptability, and creativity in this battle! Findings also suggest that one in seven nurses worldwide - and 23 per cent in high-income countries - are foreign-born, highlighting the reliance on international migration. In contrast, the proportion is significantly lower in upper middle-income countries at 8 per cent, lower middle-income countries at 1 per cent and in low-income countries at 3 per cent. Samuel Kutty The writer is a freelance journalist and author who worked in Oman and India
Euronews
13-05-2025
- Health
- Euronews
How do challenges facing Europe's nursing workforce compare globally?
Wealthy European countries' reliance on foreign-born nurses is exacerbating the shortage of 5.8 million nurses across the globe, according to a new report. The world's nursing workforce reached 29.8 million in 2023, up from 27.9 million five years earlier. But gaps remain, and there are major differences between wealthier and poorer countries, according to the report compiled by the World Health Organization (WHO) and other groups. 'We cannot ignore the inequalities that mark the global nursing landscape,' WHO chief Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said in a statement. The European region, which also includes Central Asia, is home to 7.2 million nurses and expects to add another million by 2030. There are 76.9 nurses per 10,000 people – a rate five times higher than in Africa and the Eastern Mediterranean (which encompasses areas of North Africa, the Horn of Africa, and West and Central Asia). But Europe's nurses – who make up about three in five medical workers – are facing challenges that could have consequences for health across the continent. Here's how they stack up. In about 20 countries worldwide – mostly wealthy European nations – the number of new nurses entering the workforce is not keeping pace with demand for their services, the report found. That's due to a combination of nurses who retire and are not replaced quickly enough, as well as an overall ageing population with more complex health needs. In 2023, for example, 31 per cent of Europe's nurses were under the age of 35, while 21 per cent were 55 or older. But in Eastern Europe, older nurses make up a greater share of the workforce than younger nurses. In 23 European countries with data, 14 per cent of nurses are foreign-born, a level that is on par with the rest of the globe but makes these areas reliant on international recruitment to fill gaps in the workforce. Another 10 per cent of nurses were trained elsewhere. The WHO report said wealthy countries have made 'inadequate investments in education' in their own countries, and that their efforts to bring more nurses in from lower-income countries are worsening nursing shortages there. There are 'striking inequalities in workforce distribution which have driven a surge in international recruitment and inequitable migration patterns,' Howard Catton, CEO of the umbrella group International Council of Nurses, said in a statement. Despite its challenges, Europe has a more robust pipeline for new nurses than most parts of the world. For every 100,000 people, there were 42.7 new nurse graduates in 2023, compared with a rate of 25.3 globally. Many of the region's new nurses come from Central Asia, with western Europe producing far fewer graduates. The average wage for entry-level nurses in Europe was $2,508 (€2,205) per month, the report found. Even after taking purchasing power into account, European nurses had the highest starting pay in the world. The region is also better-equipped to help nurses advance their careers, according to the report. About two in three countries worldwide have leadership development programmes for nurses, with the highest rate in Europe at 78 per cent. But wealthy European countries should take steps to boost enrollment in nursing training programmes and incentivise nurses to stay in the profession, the report said.
Al Etihad
12-05-2025
- Health
- Al Etihad
Abu Dhabi nurses share why their work goes far beyond hospital walls
13 May 2025 01:19 SARA ALZAABI (ABU DHABI)Every year on May 12, the world celebrates International Nurses Day to honour their contributions and highlight their irreplaceable role in the world of healthcare. The date marks the birth anniversary of Florence Nightingale, the founder of modern nursing, whose legacy continues to inspire caregivers its introduction in 1965 by the International Council of Nurses (ICN), the day has become a global call to value the nursing profession, which serves as a pillar of healthcare and a foundation for healthier, more resilient the occasion of International Nurses Day, nurses in Abu Dhabi shared with Aletihad what their profession means to Sara Alkuwaiti, a nurse at Imperial College London Diabetes Centre, nursing is about rebuilding trust, being a source of comfort and guidance, and reassuring every patient that they are in safe hands.'Being a nurse is not just a profession — it is a lifelong commitment to care, compassion, and community. I'm proud to serve my country by supporting patients on their journey to better health every day,' she told Alhammadi, a nurse at HealthPlus, echoed the sentiment. To Alhammadi, every patient interaction is both a responsibility and a privilege, rooted in dignity, personal care, and compassion.'Nursing allows me to make a difference in people's lives, one patient at a time. As an Emirati nurse, I feel honoured to represent the strength and empathy of our nation's caregivers,' she told Strengthen EconomiesThis year's theme, 'Our Nurses. Our Future. Caring for nurses strengthens economies', serves as a reminder that supporting nurses is not only essential for patient care but also for the strength and stability of national economies. In its latest report, the ICN said that 'investing in employee health could unlock $11.7 trillion in global economic returns'. The report also cited research showing that a 1% increase in nurse density correlates with a 0.02% increase in life expectancy. And with each additional year of life expectancy, countries exhibited a corresponding 2.4% increase in economic both the ICN and the WHO warn in their reports of a worsening global nursing shortage. The WHO came out with its latest 'State of World's Nursing' report on Monday, with the UAE chairing its launch in the Eastern Mediterranean region. According to the report, the world was already short by approximately 5.8 million nurses in 2023, and by 2030, 89% of the shortage will be borne by low- and lower-middle-income ICN report added that an additional 30 million nurses will be required to meet future healthcare demands.'We cannot and would not want to envision a world without nurses. We must take action to diminish the threats to safe, supportive, and healthy working conditions that will attract future nurses and retain the dedicated nurses who are key to healthier communities, responsive societies, thriving economies, and powerful nations,' Dr. Pamela Cipriano, ICN President, said in the response, the ICN has put forward its 'Caring for Nurses Agenda', a seven-point action plan addressing urgent areas such as fair pay, safe staffing levels, workplace safety, career progression, and mental health support. Meanwhile, the WHO called on countries to scale up the nursing workforce 'by expanding education and training capacity, increasing jobs for nurses in the health system, improving working conditions and strengthening leadership and governance'.
The Hindu
12-05-2025
- Health
- The Hindu
Low- and middle-income countries face challenges in graduating, employing, and retaining nurses in health systems: WHO report
Low- and middle-income countries are facing challenges in graduating, employing, and retaining nurses in their health systems, and would have to raise domestic investments to create and sustain jobs, the latest 'State of the World's Nursing 2025' report from the World Health Organization (WHO) has found. Low-income countries are increasing nurse graduate numbers at a faster pace than high-income countries, the report says. In many countries, hard-earned gains in the graduation rate of nurses are not resulting in improved densities due to the faster pace of population growth and lower employment opportunities. To address this, countries should create jobs to ensure graduates are hired and integrated into the health system, and improve working conditions, the report says. High-income countries have to be prepared to manage high levels of retiring nurses, and review their reliance on foreign-trained nurses, strengthening bilateral agreements with the countries they recruit from, the report says. The findings suggest that one in seven nurses worldwide, and 23% of nurses in high-income countries, are foreign-born, highlighting reliance on international migration. In contrast, the proportion of foreign-born nurses is significantly lower in upper middle-income countries (8%), lower middle-income countries (1%), and low-income countries (3%). The report finds that the global nursing workforce grew from 27.9 million in 2018 to 29.8 million in 2023, but wide disparities in the availability of nurses remains across regions and countries. The report, published in collaboration with the International Council of Nurses and other partners, finds that inequities in the global nursing workforce leave many of the world's population without access to essential health services, which could threaten progress towards universal health coverage, global health security, and the health-related development goals. The evidence indicates global progress in reducing the nursing workforce shortage from 6.2 million in 2020 to 5.8 million in 2023, with a projection to decline to 4.1 million by 2030. But the overall progress still masks deep regional disparities — approximately 78% of the world's nurses are concentrated in countries representing just 49% of the global population, the report says. Also, gender and equity remain central concerns in the nursing workforce. Women continue to dominate the profession, making up 85% of the global nursing workforce. The report, however, states that mental health and workforce well-being remain areas of concern. Only 42% of responding countries have provisions for nurses' mental health support, despite increased workloads and trauma experienced during and since the COVID-19 pandemic. 'Addressing this is essential to retain skilled professionals and ensure quality of care,'' the WHO said. The report is based on data provided by 194 countries via the National Health Workforce Accounts portal, which revealed a 33% increase in the number of countries reporting data since the previous 2020 edition of the report.
