On Europe Day, that marks the anniversary of the Schuman Declaration (9 May 1950), the EFN would like to take the opportunity to celebrate all the EU nurses for their relentless support and contribution to ensure that the European project is a success for all, including the European nurses, patients, and citizens. Their commitment, expertise and experience have been key in the design of fit-for-purpose EU policies.
Over the last years, despite their ambition to care for patients, and their willing to contribute to a better Europe of health, nurses are constantly being put in unsafe and ungratifying conditions (as with COVID-19 or the ongoing war in Ukraine). This leaves them no other choice than to leave the nursing profession. It is therefore crucial to recognise the role of nurses and their relentless commitment to save lives, and to create the conditions for them to stay in the profession – through better and safer working conditions, better salaries, high education. This is a key starting point for ensuring a better future for Europe.
More than ever, it is vital that the EU Institutions and the EU stakeholders remember that nurses are the backbone of the healthcare ecosystem, and that they contribute to reach better health outcomes. Thus, building a resilient EU nursing workforce should be a priority for all at EU and national level – policy- and decision-makers, stakeholders, etc. Without nurses, we cannot have resilient and sustainable health systems.
Happy Europe Day to you all!