#nursesday25

As the only global union federation representing nurses across all grades and sectors, Public Services International demands:

Safe Staffing: Safe staffing levels through nurse-patient ratios, which is a proven method to ensure that the necessary staff are available when needed.

Tackle Nurse Shortages: Improve pay and conditions through collective bargaining and respect freedom of association.

Safe Workplaces: Enforceable policies on occupational health and safety and protection from violence and harassment for all nurses.

Public Healthcare: Invest in universal, quality public health and care services through progressive taxation.

End Privatisation: Stop allowing corporations to put profits before patient safety and nurses' welfare.

Value the Nursing Profession: The feminisation of nursing has historically led to its undervaluation despite the complex, skilled work it entails.

Ethical Recruitment: Eliminate unethical recruitment practices from countries on the WHO red list. Migrant nurses must have full access to their rights, including fair wages, safe working conditions, and freedom from discrimination.

In the context of International Nurses Day (May 12), the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) proposes that Member States engage in discussions on the use of evidence and information in strategic actions to strengthen nursing and ensure a sustainable workforce for the Region of the Americas.

The Region of the Americas has 7.4 million nursing professionals, representing 63% of the health workforce.

The distribution of nursing personnel among the countries of the Region is uneven:  The density of nurses varies from 7 to 135 per 10 000 population, and 40% of countries have fewer than 30 nurses per 10 000 population.

Eighty-seven percent of nurses are women, who continue to face gender inequality and lack of professional recognition.

Although 86% of countries have government chief nursing officers, the participation of nurses in the development and implementation of health policies remains limited.

The number of nursing graduates has declined dramatically, from 81 to 24 per 10 000 population between 2018 and 2023, indicating that the profession has become less attractive.

The working conditions of nurses are inadequate. In the Region of the Americas:

50% of countries have regulated working hours

31% have wellness and mental health programs for health personnel

36% have retention mechanisms in place for nurses in rural areas