New country examples highlight efforts to advance nursing and midwifery professions in the WHO European Region

As countries continue to rebuild their health systems following the COVID-19 pandemic, WHO/Europe urges governments to support and strengthen their nursing and midwifery workforce.

On International Nurses’ Day 2022, WHO/Europe is publishing a series of new snapshots from 13 countries in the Region presenting how they are supporting nurses’ and midwives’ education, service delivery, jobs, and leadership.

The 21 snapshots are concrete country examples of policy and programmatic initiatives to advance nursing and midwifery in the 4 priority policy areas of the WHO Global Strategic Directions for Nursing and Midwifery 2021–2025, and WHO/Europe’s Nursing and Midwifery Roadmap published in December 2021.

The Roadmap reflects the priorities of the WHO European Programme of Work 2020–2025 – “United Action for Better Health in Europe”, and provides inspiration to countries to move this agenda forward. More snapshots will be released over the coming months.

“The Roadmap is just a fiction without the concrete examples of nurses and midwives who are paving the way for investment areas in jobs, education, services and leadership,” says Maggie Langins, WHO/Europe’s Nursing and Midwifery Policy Adviser. “And all major change starts with small efforts on the ground. We believe these snapshots inspire and motivate change and, most importantly, demonstrate how investment in these areas benefits our patients and communities.”

Nurses and midwives account for the largest single group of health professionals, and are responsible for 90% of contacts between patients and health professionals.

WHO/Europe is highlighting the importance of giving back to nurses and midwives in the Region in recognition of the dedication and passion with which they continue to care for populations, despite the many challenges and limitations they face.

The snapshots showcase how countries are supporting their nursing and midwifery workforce. Examples cover diverse areas – from nurses’ roles in family medicine and ambulatory care to current plans supporting nurses’ leadership development.

Reflecting the diversity of health systems in the Region, the snapshots cover a wide range of countries, from Croatia and Israel to Lithuania and Malta, among others.