Publications

Strengthening health systems through nursing provides a comprehensive examination of the nursing profession’s contribution to health system performance across Europe. With over 7.2 million nurses and midwives in the WHO European Region, the profession is the largest safety critical vehicle for health service delivery — yet it faces increasing strain. Drawing on robust evidence, including systematic literature reviews, this volume explores workforce planning, education, migration, regulation and the enduring effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The study highlights nursing’s impact on access, quality and value of care, and offers insight into the policy frameworks needed to sustain and strengthen the profession. From staffing and training gaps to new models of care, this book lays out clear, evidence-informed strategies for investing in Europe’s largest health workforce — an urgent priority for resilient, people-centred health systems. It will be an essential resource for policy-makers, educators, researchers and health system leaders.

“This book offers the most comprehensive analysis of workforce issues by offering data, and direction, on some of the most urgent policy areas needing to be strengthened to empower nurses to practice to their full potential and ultimately to deliver safer, timelier and required care for patients and communities across our Member States. It aligns well with WHO ‘Nursing Action Initiative’ to tackle shortages, and I’m delighted to see the emphasis on the safety-critical nature of nursing and the clear economic return of investing in the largest health workforce for the wellbeing and resilience of our societies and our economies. This book fills important evidence gaps and provides a blueprint for improving education, regulation, decent working conditions and data. I commend it to clinicians, managers researchers and policy-makers alike as a road map to tackle the Europe-wide nursing crisis.”

Margrieta Langins, Nursing and Midwifery Policy Advisor, WHO Regional Office for Europe