PAHO Raises Alarm Over Declining Nursing Graduates in the Americas
Washington, Tuesday, 13 May 2025.
PAHO warns of a decline in nursing graduates on International Nursing Day, emphasizing urgent action is needed as numbers fell from 81 nurses per 10,000 in 2018 to 24 in 2023.
Critical Workforce Shortage
The Pan American Health Organization’s warning comes amid a precipitous -70.37% decline in nursing graduates across the Americas, with current levels at just 24 nurses per 10,000 population, down from 81 per 10,000 in 2018 [1]. The situation is particularly concerning as 40% of countries in the Americas currently fall below the WHO-recommended threshold of 30 nurses per 10,000 population, with a projected shortage of 200,000 nurses looming over the region [1][3].
Current Workforce Demographics
The Americas currently maintain 7.4 million nursing professionals, representing 63% of the region’s total health workforce [3]. Dr. Jarbas Barbosa, PAHO Director, emphasizes that nurses constitute ‘a fundamental pillar of health systems and services’ [3]. The healthcare delivery infrastructure faces mounting pressure as inadequate working conditions, insufficient job security, and limited mental health support programs continue to affect nurse retention and patient care quality [3].
Strategic Response and Regional Cooperation
PAHO is actively addressing these challenges through strategic initiatives, including the recently signed 2025-2031 Subregional Cooperation Strategy for Central America, the Dominican Republic, and Mexico [6]. This comprehensive strategy, covering over 183.4 million people, aims to strengthen health leadership and governance while implementing disease prevention and control measures [6]. Dr. Barbosa notes that ‘in a context marked by emerging health threats, migratory flows, food insecurity, and the effects of climate change, subregional cooperation takes on even greater relevance’ [6].
Future Initiatives and Recommendations
To combat the declining workforce trends, PAHO advocates for long-term investment in nursing education and improved working conditions [3]. The organization has scheduled a webinar titled ‘Nursing in the Americas: evidence and strategies for a sustainable workforce’ for May 13, 2025, to facilitate discussions on evidence-based strategies for strengthening the nursing profession [3]. These initiatives align with WHO’s global efforts to expand and transform the health workforce through the Working for Health Programme, which supports universal health coverage and sustainable development goals [7].