35 Countries that Need Nurses the Most

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In this article, we will look at the 35 countries that need nurses the most. If you want to skip our detailed analysis of nursing shortages in the US, head straight to the 10 Countries that Need Nurses the Most

Nursing Shortages: A Global Concern

The International Council of Nurses (ICN) has sounded a global alarm about the critical shortage of nurses with staggering statistics. Drawing on data from over 100 studies, the ICN report reveals that between 40% to 80% of nurses across the world fell victim to psychological distress during the pandemic. This distress, fueled by the pandemic's relentless pressures, eventually led to a surge in nurses' intentions to leave their profession. Moreover, the annual turnover rate in hospitals has soared to more than 10%. 

This global shortage of nursing staff poses a severe threat to healthcare systems globally. The pandemic has exposed the fragility of these systems, making it clear that immediate and heavy investments are required to support and retain nurses. Failure to act decisively could further plunge the world into a healthcare crisis. 

Nursing Shortages in the US

The picture of nurse shortages is even darker in the US. As of May 2023, the nursing workforce in the United States continues to grapple with huge challenges, particularly in the face of persistent turnover. A recent survey of 368 frontline nurses revealed that 31% of respondents still express an intent to leave their current direct patient care positions within the next year.

This percentage, while showing signs of stabilization, remains considerably higher than the 22 percent reported in February 2021. The impact of this attrition can not be ignored, as the actual hospital and staff RN turnover has been increasing from 18 percent in fiscal year 2020 to 27 percent in fiscal year 2021. Even though turnover reduced to 23 percent in fiscal year 2022, it remains high compared to pre-pandemic levels. 

Moreover, the RN workforce declined by approximately 100,000 by the end of 2021. While the reasons for leaving the profession vary, 35% of surveyed nurses who intend to leave stated they will remain in direct patient care but with a different employer or role, while others plan to exit the workforce entirely or pursue alternative career paths. To read more about nursing shortages and its impact, check out our article on highest paying countries for nurses. 

It is worth noting that Denmark is the European country that needs nurses the most. However, European country that pays the highest salaries to nurses is Switzerland with an annual average salary of $105,347.