The future of nursing

The theme for International Nurses Day (IND) in 2024 is: "Our nurses. Our future. The economic power of care". IND 2024 on 12 May aims to “reshape perceptions, demonstrating how strategic investment in nursing can bring considerable economic and societal benefits.”

Aligned with this aim, the International Council of Nurses released the Charter for Change. The Charter for Change emphasises that “nurses are key to healthier communities, responsive societies, thriving economies and powerful nations”. It provides 10 policy actions driven by the need to value, protect, respect and invest in our nurses for a sustainable future for nursing and healthcare:

“The world has mistakenly taken nurses for granted, treating them as an invisible and inexhaustible resource. That must now stop for the sake of nurses and global health.”

The May 2024 issue of JBI Evidence Synthesis marks International Nurses Day 2024 with editorial that asserts: “Now, more than ever, it is crucial to acknowledge the significant economic contribution that nursing makes to the field of health care and to society at large.”

The editorial, The future of nursing: attrition, innovation, and the path ahead  explores how a sustainable future for nursing and healthcare can become possible. It begins with an outline of the current global crisis in the nursing profession, exacerbated by the deep disillusionment experienced by nurses following COVID-19. Nurses had anticipated significant advancements in terms of improved working conditions, compensation, recognition and staffing levels. However, these expectations have largely gone unmet.  

The editorial discusses AI as a potential mechanism to mitigate attrition in nursing by creating positive, safe, and efficient practice environments. It notes that AI-powered technologies may optimise resources, enhance professional recognition, and improve remuneration for nurses. In this way, AI has the potential to alleviate some of the factors contributing to attrition, making the nursing profession more attractive and sustainable:

“AI-driven health technologies are recognised for their potential to enhance nursing practice. This is exactly what the profession and discipline of nursing need to enable our nurses to envision a future and foster socially sustainable and healthy economies.”