Job insecurity and poor care quality drive nurses to quit the profession
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A study in Spain reveals that job insecurity, excessive workload and perceptions of poor care quality are the main reasons nurses want to quit the profession. The phenomenon also reflects a structural trend across Europe.
Nurses’ intention to leave the profession in Spain is not down to a single factor, but to a set of structural conditions that undermine the day-to-day practice of nursing, notably job insecurity and poor quality of care.
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That is the conclusion of new research, which finds that almost four in 10 nursing professionals in Spain are considering leaving the profession in the next decade.
This is shown by the largest study carried out to date in the country, led by the Ministry of Health and the Carlos III Health Institute (ISCIII), based on more than 20,000 responses and published in the Journal of Nursing Management'.
The report concludes that 39.6% of nurses surveyed intend to leave the profession in the next 10 years, and 17% expect to do so within just two years. Among the factors behind this trend are a lack of job security, excessive workloads and negative perceptions of the quality of care and patient safety.
According to the study, temporary contracts increase the likelihood of leaving by 33%, while the perception of poor patient safety raises the risk by 81%. In addition, 56.5% of those who want to quit the profession cite lack of stability as the main reason, followed by limited recognition and working conditions many see as inadequate.
The analysis also reveals significant regional inequalities: regions such as Madrid, the Canary Islands, Galicia and the Balearic Islands show more than twice the likelihood of intending to leave as Navarra, something the authors link to differences in working conditions and the organisation of the health system.
Another key factor is the mismatch between training and professional practice: only 34.5% of specialist nurses work in their field, which contributes to professional dissatisfaction. Added to this is the lack of time for patient care, which means 60% of those surveyed admit to omitting care.
RelatedA trend spreading across Europe
The phenomenon is not unique to Spain. In several European countries, health systems are facing a growing shortage of nursing staff, exacerbated by ageing populations, pressure on services and the difficulty of retaining talent.
Reports from international organisations have warned that the European Union may need hundreds of thousands of additional nurses in the coming years to maintain standards of care. In countries such as Germany, France and the United Kingdom, health unions have reported rising rates of early exits from the profession and difficulties in covering shifts in hospitals and primary care.
The Spanish study, part of the Strategic Framework for Nursing Care 2025–2027, stresses the need to improve job security, professional recognition and working conditions as key elements in halting an exodus of talent which, if not addressed, could undermine the sustainability of European health systems.
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