Global study says nursing shortages need workforce policy fixes

A new evidence brief from the Global Nursing Workforce Centre says countries cannot solve nursing shortages with recruitment campaigns alone. The study, based on research from 42 countries, argues that pay, working conditions, respect and career growth are key to both bringing people into nursing and keeping them there.

Why it matters: - Nursing shortages affect health systems' ability to deliver care. - The evidence brief says recruitment alone will not fix the problem if nurses keep leaving. - The findings point governments, employers, educators and workforce planners toward policy changes that improve retention as well as entry.

What happened: - The Global Nursing Workforce Centre released an evidence brief titled The Attractiveness of Nursing for Prospective and Current Nursing Students. - The brief draws on research from 42 countries. - The Global Nursing Workforce Centre is a joint initiative of the International Council of Nurses and TruMerit. - The brief was released Sept. 9, 2026, in Geneva.

The details: - Purpose remains nursing's biggest draw, with helping others identified as the strongest motivation for choosing the profession. - Working conditions shape both recruitment and retention. - Burnout, staffing shortages, workload pressures and workplace stress discourage people from entering nursing and push others out. - Compensation, professional respect and public perceptions of nursing all influence career decisions. - Flexibility, work-life balance and career growth are increasingly important to younger workers. - Peter Preziosi, TruMerit president and CEO, said evidence-informed workforce policies are needed to support nurses' professional growth, well-being and ability to deliver quality care. - Howard Catton, ICN chief executive officer, said vocation alone cannot pay bills or protect nurses from burnout. - Catton said governments have relied on nurses' sense of vocation for too long.

Between the lines: - The brief frames nursing as a workforce policy problem, not just a recruiting problem. - The analysis suggests shortages will persist if health systems do not improve the day-to-day job enough for nurses to stay. - The study also reflects a generational shift, with newer workers placing more weight on flexibility and progression than older workforce models may have assumed.

What's next: - Policymakers and employers are likely to face more pressure to pair recruitment efforts with retention reforms. - Expected policy priorities include better staffing, safer workloads, stronger compensation and clearer career pathways. - GNWC says it developed the brief to turn global nursing research into practical guidance for workforce planning and sustainable health systems.

The bottom line: - The global nursing shortage is as much about keeping nurses as attracting them.