The International Nurses Day, celebrated every year on 12 May, is an important opportunity for the European Federation of Nurses Associations (EFN) to recognise the invaluable contribution of nurses and to highlight their central role in delivering high-quality, safe, and patient-centred care across Europe.
Nurses are the backbone of healthcare systems. As demonstrated during recent health crises, nurses are consistently at the frontline of care, ensuring the continuity and resilience of healthcare services under immense pressure. However, nurses are under severe strain. Chronic understaffing, excessive workloads, unsafe working conditions, and insufficient recognition are driving nurses out of the profession at alarming rates. This workforce crisis not only threatens nurses’ own health and well-being, but also undermines patient safety, quality of care, and health system preparedness.
Therefore, on this International Nurses Day, the EFN calls on EU and national policymakers to invest in nursing education, ensuring safe staffing levels, improving working conditions, and guaranteeing fair remuneration as essential measures to make nursing sustainable and attractive. Gender equity and zero tolerance for violence in healthcare settings must also be integral components of workforce strategies.
Nursing is not only part of the solution, but also the solution to addressing Europe’s growing healthcare needs. To achieve resilient and future-proof healthcare systems, nurses must be fully involved in decision-making processes at all levels, including health workforce planning and policy design.
International Nurses Day is a moment to celebrate nurses’ dedication and impact, but also a call to action. Supporting nurses today means protecting patients tomorrow and ensuring the sustainability of healthcare systems for future generations.
In this context, EFN organised a livestreamed VoxBox discussion in the European Parliament, where MEP Nicolas González Casares (S&D, Spain), Paul De Raeve (EFN Secretary General), joined by Terhi Reunama (Finnish Nurses Association), Paloma Arenas (Spanish Union Satse) & Laura África Villaseñor Roa (SATSE President), called for better protection and support, Safe Staffing Levels, Advanced Practice Nurses (APN), and recognition for the frontline nurses to stay in the profession.
>> Rewatch EFN livestreamed VoxBox here.
Happy International Nurses Day, today and every day!