No Dia Internacional da Enfermagem, OPAS alerta para declínio drástico de pessoas graduadas em enfermagem [1]

This drastic decline poses a significant threat to the sustainability of the nursing profession in the Region, where 40% of countries already fall short of the WHO-recommended minimum of 30 nurses per 10,000 population. The Americas face a projected shortage of 200,000 nurses.

Currently, there are 7.4 million nursing professionals in the Americas, accounting for 63% of the Region’s health workforce.

“Nurses are a fundamental pillar of health systems and services,” said the PAHO Director in a message for International Nurses Day. “They make up the majority of the health workforce and are essential members of interprofessional health teams.”

The report highlights persistent inequalities in the availability, distribution, educational capacity, and working conditions of nurses across the Region. Issues such as inadequate working conditions, the lack of policies regarding working hours, job insecurity, and the absence of mental health and well-being programs not only affect retention and quality of care but also impact patient outcomes, the functioning of health systems, and access to care.

To address this, the report recommends long-term investments in nursing to expand education, ensure workforce protection, and improve working conditions.

“Investing in decent working conditions through policies and programs that support nurses’ mental health and well-being is crucial to their retention,” Barbosa said. “It’s also important to recognize the value of the profession and make it more appealing to younger generations.”

Including nurses in the development and implementation of health policies is also essential for advancing regulatory frameworks, education, and working conditions.

“Together, we can build a sustainable nursing workforce for our Region. To all nursing professionals: thank you for your work and commitment to the health of our communities,” Barbosa concluded.

PAHO continues to work with countries across the Region on the development of policies and plans for the training and retention of the health workforce. The Organization also supports capacity-building through the Virtual Campus for Public Health and collaborates with countries to enhance faculty skills and strengthen education by standardizing curricula.

International Nurses Day
International Nurses Day is celebrated worldwide every year on May 12, marking the birthday of Florence Nightingale, considered the founder of modern nursing.

To mark the occasion, PAHO will host a webinar on May 13, titled “Nursing in the Americas: Evidence and Strategies for a Sustainable Workforce,” with simultaneous interpretation into Portuguese. The goal is to bring countries together to discuss strategic, evidence-based actions to strengthen nursing and ensure a sustainable health workforce in the Americas.

The webinar is based on the strategic guidelines of PAHO’s Health Workforce Policy 2030: Strengthening Human Resources for Resilient Health Systems. More information on the event is available [here]. [4]