WHO's first 'State of nursing' report highlights shortages in workforce

The WHO just released its first-ever "State of nursing" report, which documents the ongoing shortage of nurses in the medical field as well as highlights steps to increase their numbers. There are around 28 million nurses worldwide, the report states, although this still leaves a gap of nearly 6 million to keep up with medical need and the aging population of the current nursing workforce. One in six nurses are expected to retire in the next decade. Countries with shortages — many of which are in Africa, Southeast Asia, and Latin America — ought to increase the number of nursing graduates by at least 8% every year to make up for the shortfalls, the WHO recommends. To help with retention and elevating the importance of nurses, the agency also calls for more leadership roles for nurses, such as by establishing chief nurse positions in government.