Addressing the Urgent Shortage of Perioperative Nurses in Europe

2026-08-26

By EORNA President, Jaana Perttunen

The European healthcare system is facing an unprecedented challenge: a severe and growing shortage of nurses. Nowhere is this more critical than in perioperative nursing, where skilled professionals are essential to ensuring patient safety, surgical efficiency, and high-quality outcomes. As President of EORNA, I want to highlight the urgency of this crisis and explore potential solutions to safeguard the future of our profession.

A Workforce Under Pressure

Recent findings from the OECD’s Health at a Glance: Europe 2024 report underscore the gravity of the situation. While the demand for healthcare services continues to rise, the supply of trained nurses is struggling to keep pace. High levels of burnout, increased workloads, and an aging workforce are exacerbating the problem, leading to an exodus of experienced nurses from the field.

In perioperative nursing, these shortages have a direct impact on patient care. Operating rooms rely on highly specialized teams, and when hospitals lack adequate staff, it leads to surgical delays, increased stress on remaining personnel, and higher risks for both patients and providers.

Why Are Nurses Leaving?

Several factors contribute to the declining numbers of perioperative nurses:

Workplace stress and burnout – The high-pressure nature of surgical nursing, combined with staff shortages, leads to fatigue and dissatisfaction.

Lack of incentives – Competitive salaries and career development opportunities vary widely across Europe, making retention difficult.

Aging workforce – Many experienced nurses are retiring, and there are not enough younger professionals entering the field to replace them.

What Can Be Done?

To address these challenges, EORNA advocates for:

✅ Investing in education and training – More funding is needed for specialized perioperative nursing programs to attract new professionals. ✅ Improving working conditions – Hospitals must prioritize staff well-being, ensuring safe workloads and mental health support. ✅ Strengthening recruitment and retention strategies – Competitive salaries, career development opportunities, and mentorship programs can encourage nurses to stay in the profession.

The Role of EORNA

EORNA is committed to advocating for perioperative nurses at the European level. We are working closely with policymakers, professional organizations, and healthcare institutions to develop solutions that ensure a sustainable workforce.

We need action now to secure the future of perioperative nursing. I invite all nurses, hospital leaders, and policymakers to join this critical conversation. Together, we can build a healthcare system that supports and values its nursing workforce.