The Consequences of Nursing Staff Shortages in Europe.
Chikozho, Albertina; Mthethwa, Amanda (2025)
2025
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Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2025110326944
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2025110326944
Tiivistelmä
Abstract
Background: Nursing staff shortage is a major concern for Europe, affecting healthcare service delivery, patient safety, nurse wellbeing and healthcare system sustainability. This literature review analyses how nursing staff shortages contribute to excessive workloads, burnout, high turnover, and worsening shortages exacerbated by systemic problems like poor workforce management weaken the healthcare system and strain finances.
Aim: This research aims to analyze the challenges of nursing workforce shortage in Europe.
Method: This research utilized a literature review approach. Data was sought from existing literature on the subject matter through use of databases CINAHL and PubMed selecting 8 articles that were published between 2015 and 2025. Data analysis was done through inductive content analysis, uncovering patterns and themes within the data that was systematically collected and analyzed to effectively answer the research questions and reach meaningful conclusions on the subject matter.
Results: The findings tell of a severe nursing staff shortage driven by excessive workloads, burnout, job dissatisfaction, organizational and systemic factors which lead to poor quality of care and patient safety risk.
Conclusion: The evidence analyzed confirmed that nursing shortages compromise quality of care, patient safety, staff well-being, and system-wide resilience. The impact is intense, increased morbidity and mortality, delayed interventions, therapeutic relationships that are strained, and systemic inefficiencies that threaten both patient outcomes and financial sustainability.
Background: Nursing staff shortage is a major concern for Europe, affecting healthcare service delivery, patient safety, nurse wellbeing and healthcare system sustainability. This literature review analyses how nursing staff shortages contribute to excessive workloads, burnout, high turnover, and worsening shortages exacerbated by systemic problems like poor workforce management weaken the healthcare system and strain finances.
Aim: This research aims to analyze the challenges of nursing workforce shortage in Europe.
Method: This research utilized a literature review approach. Data was sought from existing literature on the subject matter through use of databases CINAHL and PubMed selecting 8 articles that were published between 2015 and 2025. Data analysis was done through inductive content analysis, uncovering patterns and themes within the data that was systematically collected and analyzed to effectively answer the research questions and reach meaningful conclusions on the subject matter.
Results: The findings tell of a severe nursing staff shortage driven by excessive workloads, burnout, job dissatisfaction, organizational and systemic factors which lead to poor quality of care and patient safety risk.
Conclusion: The evidence analyzed confirmed that nursing shortages compromise quality of care, patient safety, staff well-being, and system-wide resilience. The impact is intense, increased morbidity and mortality, delayed interventions, therapeutic relationships that are strained, and systemic inefficiencies that threaten both patient outcomes and financial sustainability.