Partnering with the EU to support nurses in the European Union (Nursing Action)

WHO is partnering with the European Union (EU) to support nurses by designing and developing measures to attract more students and mid-career professionals into the nursing profession, as well as strategies to retain nurses already in the workforce.

The COVID-19 pandemic magnified longstanding challenges, including unsafe working environments, low pay, stress, burnout and poor retention. These factors have pushed many nurses to leave the profession or consider leaving.

The future of health systems and healthy societies in Europe depends on urgent action to retain, recruit and empower nurses, with a particular focus on underserved and rural areas.

WHO and the European Commission are partnering to support the nursing workforce across the EU through the Nursing Action project, which will introduce measures to support their well-being and tackle structural shortages in European health systems.

Nursing Action to attract and retain nurses

Nursing Action is a multi-year project funded by the Commission’s Directorate-General for Health and Food Safety (DG SANTE), bringing together WHO, the European Commission, EU Member States, government chief nursing officers, social partners and training institutions to co-create sustainable and long-lasting solutions.

Through close collaboration with 20 EU Member States, Nursing Action supports the development of national measures to make nursing a more attractive career choice and to strengthen the retention of nurses already in the workforce. This work is informed by detailed country analyses, global evidence, and the expertise of European nursing associations and partner organizations.

Key activities

• Support countries to conduct national dialogues on improving and implementing evidence-based recruitment and retention policies.
• Strengthen the capacity of nurses to mentor the next generation of nurses.
• Facilitate cross-country exchange and learning within the EU on how to secure better working conditions, mental health and well-being, safe staffing, and career development.
• Increase the capacity of Member States and national stakeholders in the EU to attract more students and mid-career professionals to nursing.
  

Supporting nurses for healthier populations

Nurses represent more than 60% of the health workforce in the EU, and 85% of them are women. Supporting the nursing workforce not only improves retention and recruitment, but also leads to healthier populations, better primary care and better prepared health systems. 

A growing and unsustainable shortage of nurses threatens both patient safety and the capacity of health systems to cope with rapidly changing health and social challenges.

The Nursing Action project is being funded by the EU and implemented by WHO/Europe. The project’s implementation is taking place through ongoing collaboration with Member States and civil society partners, including the European Federation of Nursing Associations (EFN), the European Forum for National Nursing and Midwifery Associations (EFNNMA), the European Nursing Student Association (ENSA), the European Hospital and Healthcare Employers' Association (HOSPEEM), and the European Public Service Union (EPSU).