A new study from Spain, the largest of its kind in the country, has found that nearly four in ten nurses are considering leaving the profession within the next decade. The research, led by Spain's Ministry of Health and the Carlos III Health Institute (ISCIII) and published in the Journal of Nursing Management, surveyed more than 20,000 nursing professionals and highlights a combination of structural factors pushing them out.
The study reports that 39.6% of respondents intend to quit nursing in the next ten years, with 17% expecting to leave within just two years. The primary reasons cited include a lack of job security, excessive workloads, and a negative perception of the quality of care and patient safety they can provide.
Key Drivers: Insecurity and Perceived Risk
According to the analysis, temporary contracts increase the likelihood of intending to leave by 33%, while the perception of poor patient safety raises that risk by 81%. Among those who want to leave, 56.5% point to a lack of stability as the main reason, followed by limited professional recognition and what many see as inadequate working conditions.
Regional disparities are stark. Nurses in Madrid, the Canary Islands, Galicia, and the Balearic Islands are more than twice as likely to consider leaving as those in Navarra. The authors link this to differences in working conditions and how regional health systems are organized.
Another critical factor is the mismatch between training and practice: only 34.5% of specialist nurses work in their field of expertise, contributing to professional dissatisfaction. The lack of time for patient care is so severe that 60% of those surveyed admit to omitting necessary care tasks.
A European-Wide Challenge
Spain's situation is not an isolated case. Across Europe, health systems are grappling with a growing shortage of nursing staff, exacerbated by ageing populations, increased pressure on services, and difficulties retaining talent. International organizations have warned that the European Union may need hundreds of thousands of additional nurses in the coming years to maintain care standards.
In countries such as Germany, France, and the United Kingdom, health unions report rising rates of early exits from the profession and persistent difficulties in covering shifts in hospitals and primary care. The Spanish study, part of the Strategic Framework for Nursing Care 2025–2027, underscores the need for systemic reforms to improve job security, professional recognition, and working conditions.
As young Europeans already express distrust in long-term social systems, the exodus of nurses threatens to undermine the sustainability of healthcare across the continent. Without decisive action, the talent drain could leave Europe's health systems dangerously understaffed.
