Nurses are a vital component of any health-care enterprise and when we invest in nurses, it is not only patients who benefit – but the entire society and economy. Nurses are involved in every discipline and almost every aspect of the heath-care process. They are the constant, compassionate backbone of care. 

This is according to Prof Hester C. Klopper, Vice-Chancellor and Principal of the University of the Free State (UFS), who delivered the keynote address during the UFS’ School of Nursing celebration of International Nurses Day (IND). This day is celebrated on 12 May around the world annually – the anniversary of Florence Nightingale's birth.

Prof Klopper, a nurse at heart, said the theme of this year’s International Nurses Day ‘Our Nurses, Our Future: Caring for Nurses Strengthens Economies’ speaks to something she is passionate about. “Nursing shaped me before anything else in my career. It taught me compassion and critical thinking, among others,” she said.

Serious nursing shortages

Referring to a recent report by the Department of Health, Prof Klopper said that South Africa is facing serious nursing shortages of about 26 000 to 62 000 nurses across all categories. This shortage is particularly pronounced among nursing assistants and professional nurses in rural areas. 

“With 2030 approaching, this shortage is expected to increase to around 150 000, fuelled by population growth and the fact that the number of retiring nurses is outpacing the number of nurses qualifying at training facilities,” said Prof Klopper. The disconcerting effects of this shortage in overcrowded facilities is already seen, in the tired eyes of nurses working double shifts, and in the frustration of patients waiting for care. 

According to her, nurses keep communities healthy, which means people miss fewer workdays; children attend school more regularly; chronic conditions get managed before they become emergencies; and the elderly maintain independence for longer. To the nursing students in attendance, Prof Klopper said they are the future of the health-care system. They are tomorrow's leaders, innovators, and healers, she said.

The UFS, according to the Vice-Chancellor and Principal, is committed to excellent nursing education, not because it is easy or inexpensive but because the institution understands its profound importance to the collective future. Prof Klopper said they recognise that addressing South Africa's nursing shortage is not someone else's problem – it is the institution’s problem, its opportunity and responsibility.

“I deeply believe that we cannot solve our nursing workforce challenges without addressing nurses’ well-being. It is simply not enough to educate more nurses if we cannot create environments in which they can thrive. When I think about the future of healthcare in South Africa – and indeed the future of our nation – I cannot imagine that future without a strong, supported, thriving nursing sector at its centre.  

“Nurses bring something uniquely valuable to our society. You see people at their most vulnerable. You witness human suffering and human resilience every day. And you understand connections between body, mind, spirit, family, and community in ways that few others can.  You are, in many ways, the connective tissue of our health-care system and our society,” said Prof Klopper. 

According to her, when we invest in nursing – through education, through fair compensation, through supportive work environments, through meaningful career pathways – we are not just addressing a workforce issue. We are strengthening the fabric of our communities.

The future is bright

Dr Matilda Tshabalala, Senior Manager: Learner Affairs at the South Africa Nursing Council (SANC) spoke about shaping the economic aspects of nursing education and why the economics of nursing education matter. She said nurses are backbone of South Africa’s healthcare system. Therefore, strategic investment in nursing education has the potential to generate significant economic returns, ensuring cost-effective education pathways. 

Dr Tshabalala also gave a breakdown on the total number of registered nurses and enrolled nursing students. She indicated that over a 10-year period, from 2013 to 2022, the total number of nurses on the register had grown from 260 698 to 271 000. There is also an 18% increase in midwife practitioners, while a 9% decrease is noted in the missing auxiliary category. 

During the same period, the population of South Africa increased by 14% from approximately 42 million to 2013 to 60 million in 2022. SANC registered a total of 30 288 undergraduate students for the financial year 2023/2024. There is a notable increase of a total of 5 240 students who registered between 2022 and 2023. Furthermore, a total of 2 985 undergraduate students completed their training and are also registered with the SA Nursing Council this year as compared to a total of a 1 000 in 2023. 

“There is a need to upscale the production of nurses as the production rate is far below the population growth rate. The future is bright when we look at the data, the register and the submissions of the curriculums. 

“The higher education institutions need to invest heavily in improving students’ progression and completions. It is up to us, the nursing education institutions and the health establishments to come together and make sure that progression and completion are obtained.”

Message to students, educators and leaders

Her message to nursing students is that they are the future of this profession and part of a legacy of resilience, compassion and excellence. Their education, she said, is the foundation, but that their values, integrity and courage will carry them through the most difficult days. “Know this, you matter, your work matters and your rights matters,” she said. 

To educators and leaders, Dr Tshabalala said, their influence is immeasurable, they are shaping the character and capabilities of future nurses. She encouraged them to support, challenge and inspire their students and to teach them not only skills, but self-worth, as well as equipping students to navigate the complexities of modern healthcare, while keeping humanity at the centre.