The world marks International Nurses Day every May 12 to celebrate the pivotal role nurses play in our society. The theme for this year, “Our Nurses. Our Future. Caring for Nurses Strengthens Economies,” is a call to institutions, governments, and communities to protect and prioritise the welfare of nurses.

At the University of the Free State (UFS), the School of Nursing is honoured to be part of the international nursing community, and is looking at the state of our profession today to see what needs to be done to ensure its future.

The state of nurse well-being: A growing concern

Nurses are at the heart of all healthcare systems however, their health physically, emotionally, and professionally is increasingly under threat. In South Africa where nurses consistently work long hours in understaffed hospitals, lacking adequate resources and psychological support. These working conditions lead to elevated levels of stress, emotional exhaustion, and burnout (World Health Organisation, 2020).

The challenges extend to universities. Nurse educators bear the heavy responsibility of training the next generation of nurses under stringent constraints, which include high student numbers, declining academic capacities, and changing regulatory requirements from the South African Nursing Council (SANC) and the Council on Higher Education. As a place of work and training, the higher education sector must be considered part of the broader system affecting the wellbeing of nurses.

Training under pressure: Challenges in nursing education

Clinical placements, a focal component of the nursing academic programme, are prone to overpopulation. Most nursing students enter the profession in high-stress settings with inadequate psychosocial support. The absence of proper mentoring, is a result of nurses considering patient care as their primary focus. This can impact student retention, clinical competence, and employability.

Why nurse wellbeing matters: Strengthening economies through care

Nations thrive when nurses are well supported. The overall effectiveness, resilience and sustainability of our healthcare system and the economy are deeply interconnected with the well-being of nurses. Nurses often serve as the first healthcare personnel patients encounter, especially in rural and underdeveloped areas. They provide prompt, compassionate and competent care that reduces hospital admissions and enhances patient recovery. All these factors save on healthcare costs and boost the productivity of the nation’s workforce.

From an economic perspective, an effective nursing workforce leads to lower turnover costs, reduced stress-related absenteeism, and enhanced continuity of care. According to the International Council of Nurses (2025), high levels of burnout, compassion fatigue, and poor workplace conditions contribute to increased staff turnover, rising recruitment costs, and disruptions in service delivery.

Investment in nurse well-being creates an improved crisis response capacity for health emergencies. Nurses are the primary healthcare responders in all pandemic situations, natural disasters and health crises. Countries that have provided adequate support to the nursing staff during the COVID-19 pandemic have achieved better response results and shortened recovery times. 

When the well-being of nurses receives proper attention, we maintain the essential systems that support our society. This requires a conscious effort to advance the Sustainable Development Goals, which include Good Health and Well-being, Decent Work, and Economic Growth.

The future must be founded on health, equity, and economic security. Thus, we must prioritise nurse well-being as a cornerstone of our policies, institutional frameworks, and societal values.

The cost of inaction

If things remain unchanged, we will lose more nurses from the public sector and potentially from the profession itself. The academic pipeline will diminish as fewer nurses enter and complete postgraduate training. The consequences will be disastrous, leading to longer patient waiting times, inadequate care, and a fragile health system that cannot endure any more public health crises.