Spanish 
Dutch 
French 
German 
Norwegian Bokmål 
Polish 
Swedish
Professional associations are urging the Health Department to introduce incentives for hiring nurses in response to imminent retirements and an increasing number of graduates from the Miguel Hernández University (UMH) and the newly established Faculty of Nursing at the European University in Alicante.
The Alicante College of Nursing is finalizing a comprehensive study analysing labour and professional trends in the nursing sector across the province, the Valencian Community, and Spain from 2021 to 2024.
Preliminary data from the report highlight Alicante as the province with the lowest nurse-to-population ratio in the Valencian Community, standing at 4.78 nurses per 1,000 inhabitants. This figure is significantly below the regional average of 5.5 and far behind the national (6.19) and European (8.5) averages.
A Looming Workforce Gap
The study aligns with concerns raised by the Official College of Nursing of Valencia (COENV), which warns that the retirement of nearly 2,947 nurses aged 55 to 64 in the Valencian Community poses a serious threat to healthcare services. The impact is particularly severe in Alicante, where 1,397 nurses are nearing retirement, compared to 945 in Valencia and 605 in Castellón, according to National Institute of Statistics (INE) data.
Reports from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and the General Council of Nursing, including the “State of the Nursing Profession: Human Resources Report,” underscore the urgency of the situation, highlighting a critical shortage of professionals in the Valencian Community.
Deficit Estimates and Urgent Needs
A recent Ministry of Health report, “Current Situation and Estimated Need for Nurses in Spain 2024,” estimates a shortfall of 7,000 nurses in Alicante, 16,000 in the Valencian Community, and 100,000 nationwide. These figures highlight the pressing need for systemic reforms in workforce planning and recruitment.
Balancing Graduate Numbers with Job Availability
With the launch of the European University’s Nursing Faculty in Alicante in the 2023-2024 academic year and plans for a new Faculty of Nursing at UMH in Elche, there is growing concern that the number of nursing graduates may soon exceed job market capacity.
Professional associations emphasize that simply increasing the number of graduates is not a viable solution to the nursing shortage. The Alicante Nursing College urges caution, stressing that expanding nursing programs should be accompanied by a strategic plan for employment. Without sufficient structural positions in the public health system, an oversupply of graduates could lead to high unemployment among trained nurses.
According to the Alicante Professional Association, improving nurse-to-patient ratios can only be achieved through direct hiring into the Health System. Without adequate employment opportunities, the increase in trained professionals will not address the region’s healthcare challenges effectively.
Spanish Dutch French German Norwegian Bokmål Polish Swedish
