EU outlines €1.3m initiative to make nursing more attractive

The initiative is a joint effort between the European Commission and the World Health Organization (WHO)’s Regional Office for Europe, focusing on both retaining nurses and increasing their numbers across EU member states.

Funded through the EU4Health programme, a health funding line established in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the €1.3 million initiative will roll out various measures over the next three years in at least half of EU member states, prioritising those facing the most severe nurse shortages.

These measures include mentoring and training programmes designed to attract young students and mid-career professionals to the nursing field.

One key objective of the initiative is to produce a report analysing young people’s interest in pursuing a nursing career, which will be used to inform a ‘policy dialogue’ at the EU level.

“Nurses are the backbone of our health systems and are critical in ensuring that patients receive high-quality, professional care when they need it,” said EU Health Commissioner Stella Kyriakides, underscoring the importance of the initiative.

Additional actions include developing recruitment strategies and implementing training opportunities, particularly in relation to the digital transformation of healthcare.

Workforce impact assessments will also be conducted to identify the root causes of nurse shortages and to devise strategies to improve the health and well-being of nurses.

The initiative aims to increase interest in nursing careers, improve retention rates, enhance patient care safety, and ensure that nurses play a more active role in shaping health policies.

Policies to retain nurses such as mentoring initiatives were already suggested in an action plan on improving working conditions in the EU presented by the Commission in March.

Europe faces a dual challenge: an ageing population that will require more healthcare services and a wave of retirements within the health workforce. Addressing the shortage of care workers amid increasing demand is expected to be a high priority for the next EU executive.

“Today’s action is a sign of our commitment to addressing the serious health workforce issues that many Member States are facing and to improving the resilience of health systems across the European Health Union,” Kyriakides concluded.