The head of the Nursing Organization of Iran emphasized the 'serious shortage' of nurses across the country, stating that 'we have about one hundred thousand fewer nurses than the number of hospital beds.' Ahmad Najatian, the head of the Nursing Organization, warned on Friday, April 8, that this shortage has led to 'non-nurses or inadequately qualified nurses' replacing professional nurses in hospitals and homes. Nurses in Iran have been protesting for years about the lack of personnel, which has resulted in excessive workplace pressure, job insecurity, and low wages disrupting their quality of life. According to the Secretary-General of the Nurses' House, most nurses in Iran, especially male nurses, are forced to work both day and evening shifts because one shift does not cover living expenses; this leads to extreme fatigue due to excessive work. The Secretary-General of the Nurses' House noted that some nurses do not have homes and sleep in their personal vehicles. According to global standards, the nurse-to-hospital bed ratio is defined as an average of 1.4; this ratio was 3.09 in the UK, 2.52 in Canada, and 1.04 in Israel in 2019. However, Iran has a shortage of about one hundred thousand nurses compared to the number of hospital beds and is 'even unable to compensate for the output of retiring nurses' annually. Ahmad Najatian stated, 'Every year, about three thousand to three thousand and five hundred nurses retire, but the capacity to recruit new personnel, especially in nursing, has only been about ten thousand in recent years.' In addition to these problems, many healthcare stakeholders have warned about the widespread migration of nurses from Iran in recent years and protested the lack of sufficient and suitable replacements. In this context, in December 2023, the head of the Nursing Organization in Iran announced that 'over ten thousand of the best nurses' in Iran have emigrated. In 2024, reports of an increase in suicide among nurses in Iran were published, citing 'increasing pressure' in the workplace as the reason.
Iran Faces a Shortage of 'One Hundred Thousand' Nurses Compared to Hospital Bed Numbers
Iran is facing a critical shortage of approximately 100,000 nurses compared to its hospital bed capacity, leading to unqualified personnel filling roles meant for professional nurses. This situation has resulted in severe workplace pressure and has driven many nurses to emigrate or even face homelessness. The implications of this shortage are significant for Iran's healthcare system and the well-being of its nursing professionals.
👥 Key Players
📰 What Happened
Iran is experiencing a severe shortage of approximately 100,000 nurses compared to its hospital bed capacity, leading to unqualified personnel filling nursing roles. This has resulted in significant workplace stress and has driven many nurses to emigrate or face homelessness.
- Iran's nurse-to-hospital bed ratio is significantly lower than global standards.
- Over 10,000 skilled nurses have emigrated from Iran recently due to poor working conditions.
💡 Why It Matters
📚 Background
Iran's healthcare system is under strain due to economic difficulties and a lack of investment in healthcare personnel. The nurse-to-patient ratio is far below international standards, leading to a crisis in care delivery.
🏷️ Entities Mentioned
Translated from the original and edited for English readers. View original source →
Translation confidence: 85%