The number of those who have nursing as their first choice for higher education is the lowest since 2013. For nursing education at HVL as a whole, there are 209 fewer first-time applicants this year compared to 2022. At the Førde campus, they believe that the applicants have been scared away. The nursing students in Førde are proud of their education, but believe that many have been scared away from choosing the profession. Photo: Steinar Lote / news – I think a lot of the reason has to do with the coverage in the media. That it is written about that there is a lot of stress and a lack of staffing, and that it can scare people, says nursing student Juni Fosse. And that comes out in the speech that was presented in Samordna opptak måndag. After an upswing during the pandemic, it has now fallen sharply. – It is a serious situation for the country. We have seen a decline over a number of years now, and here we must act quickly going forward. We cannot afford to wait, says vice-chancellor at HVL Anne-Grethe Naustdal. She points out that the challenge is compound. – The authorities and working life must also be on the same page here. We must see the integrity of this. There could be a shortage of 40,000 nurses in a few years Today there is a shortage of 7,000 nurses in Norway. According to the Health Personnel Commission, the number could rise to 30,000–40,000 within 10–14 years. – As a population, we need nurses and health personnel, we cannot do without it. The trend of a decline in university attendance is serious. This is according to the head of the Norwegian Nurses Association, Lill Sverresdatter Larsen. At the same time as there are fewer nurses, the population in Norway is getting older and older. The salary is too low According to the Norwegian Nurses’ Association and the student organisations, the reason why many people abandon their education is that the salary is too low due to the workload of the profession. – It is the employer’s responsibility to ensure that the salary is at a level that is able to recruit vitally important skills and that the workplace is a place where you don’t get sick, says Larsen. Lill Sverresdatter Larsen believes that higher wages are needed for nursing education to become attractive again. Photo: William Jobling / news Førebur strike The salary settlement for the nurses started on Monday and they want more than the 5.2 percent that was agreed in the LO/NHO settlement. – Completely out of the question, says Spekter CEO Anne Kari Bratten. We stay within the frame in the front subject, i.e. 5.2 per cent. This could lead to a nursing strike in Norway. – Of course we are preparing for a strike. At the same time, we meet constructively and with faith in an employer who sees his responsibility to ensure health services for the population, replies the union leader of the Norwegian Nurses’ Association. In Norway, there will be more elderly people and fewer nurses. The trend worries many. Photo: Henning Rønhovde / news Global problem It is not just in Norway that there is a shortage of nurses and that they receive fewer applicants for the education. – It is an international trend, but fortunately there is not as great a decline in Norway as in comparable countries such as Denmark, says Lill Sverresdatter Larsen. – It is nevertheless a serious signal that both employers and politicians must take seriously in order to ensure health services, housing and preparedness throughout the country in the years to come, she adds. With a global problem, Norway cannot bring in nurses from other countries, so everyone who likes it needs to train as a nurse. Nursing student in Førde Torkill Aarflot, thinks there has been little positive mention of the profession. – It has been a very unambiguous presentation of the nursing profession. It is a very broad profession where you have a sea of possibilities within the private and public sector. The number of those who have applied for nursing education at HVL has decreased by 41.5 per cent in one year. Photo: Simon Skjelvik Brandseth / news Research and Higher Education Minister Ola Borten Moe (Sp) believes that there are still good applications for the study. – There are many more applicants than there are places, and the goal is that we fill up the places with motivated and qualified applicants who complete and can contribute to society. The aim is not to have two or three times more applicants than study places.
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– It is a serious situation – news Vestland
