The shortage of nurses in Norway has reached new heights in the last year. We have almost 7,000 fewer nurses than we should have, shows NAV’s annual business survey. If this trend continues, there will be a shortage of as many as 28,000 nurses in Norway by 2035, figures from Statistics Norway show. – We are few, so the burden is greater on us who are here, and then we get less time for users and patients, says Marte Stabell. She is a nurse in Måsøy municipality, a municipality that has experienced the shortage of nurses. In the small municipality on the Finnmark coast, there will actually be 17 nurses. But it has proved difficult to fill these positions: Five positions are empty. Recently, the municipality announced these. They received one application, but they were not qualified. In addition, four nurses have resigned. Thus, the municipality lacks more than half of the nurses they should have had. – I am always tired, but I feel it most in the conscience of my patients, says Marte Stabell. She would rather spend time in here, with patients. With few nurses in the municipality, Marte Stabell has to spend more time on office work. Photo: Jonas Løken Estenstad / news Think higher pay is the answer Leader of the nurses’ association in Måsøy, Stig Mathisen, believes that higher pay can help. – It must be attractive to become a nurse in Norway. He says that it is difficult to recruit qualified nurses, but it is especially difficult for small municipalities like Måsøy. It has led several small municipalities to entice with bonuses, extra pay, free kindergarten and / or SFO. There must be a change all over the country in terms of salary level, says the leader of the nurses’ association in Måsøy, Stig Mathisen. Photo: Jonas Løken Estenstad / news – Ultimately, people work for money. I do not think that smaller district municipalities can bear this alone. Something must be done nationally with the wage level. But Måsøy municipality is not among those who put something extra on the table to secure nurses. The politicians in the municipality said no to higher nurse salaries due to a tight municipal economy. – Salary is not the only medicine, says Bernth R. Sjursen (Labor Party), mayor of Måsøy municipality. The starting salary for nurses in Måsøy is one of the lowest in Finnmark. Salary is not the only medicine, says mayor Bernth R. Sjursen (Labor). Photo: Jonas Løken Estenstad / news He believes the problem of obtaining qualified health personnel is not just about pay, but is more complex. – You compete with the municipalities. You compete with the hospitals. It is clear that more nurses will have to be trained. Both the municipality and the nurses’ association believe that the government must look more closely at the matter. More study places According to the government, there will be 500 more study places for nurses from the autumn. State Secretary Ole Henrik Krat Bjørkhol says that already in August there will be 500 more study places for nurses. Photo: Esten Borgos / Borgos Foto AS – We have established a health personnel commission that will give the government advice on how we can both educate, recruit and retain professionals for our joint health service in the future, says State Secretary Ole Henrik Krat Bjørkholt (Labor). Lill Sverresdatter Larsen, leader of the Norwegian Nurses’ Association, believes, however, that many and complex measures are needed. – We can increase the educational capacity somewhat, but we must have a quality of education anyway, says Larsen. She says that internships are the big obstacle. – There is no point in increasing the educational places at the university when you do not get nurses into relevant practice. There are many measures that are needed to have enough nurses. The salary is still the most important measure, says the leader of the Norwegian Nurses’ Association, Lill Sverresdatter Larsen. Photo: Frode Fjerdingstad / news Mister nurses Sverresdatter Larsen believes that regardless of increased pay is the most important measure. At the same time, she emphasizes that it is important to be able to keep the nurses who are already trained. – We have several thousand nurses who are educated, but who no longer work in the profession, because the salary is too low and the burden is thus too high. State Secretary Bjørkholt says that the government sees the shortage of nurses as a very challenging and important issue. – This is our highest priority issue, says Bjørkholt.
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