Nursing Now 2020: the Nightingale Challenge.

Area of Science:

• Healthcare Management
• Nursing and Midwifery Workforce Studies
• Global Health Policy

Background:

• Increasing global healthcare expenditure and aging populations with multiple comorbidities are straining health systems.
• There is a significant and growing shortage of healthcare workers, particularly in nursing and midwifery, leading to unfilled vacancies.
• The World Health Organization's declaration of 2020 as the Year of the Nurse and Midwife, alongside the Nursing Now campaign, has galvanized advocacy for investment in these professions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To highlight the critical role of nursing and midwifery in addressing global health challenges.
• To advocate for increased global investment in nursing and midwifery professions.
• To explore how initiatives can support universal health coverage and professional development.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of global healthcare trends and workforce demographics.
• Review of advocacy campaigns and their impact on policy and investment.
• Examination of the Nightingale Challenge framework for early career professionals.

Main Results:

• The Nursing Now campaign and similar initiatives have united nursing and midwifery professions for advocacy.
• These movements are crucial for addressing universal health coverage, professional practice inconsistencies, and recruitment/retention issues.
• The Nightingale Challenge specifically aims to empower early-career nurses and midwives for transformative roles.

Conclusions:

• Investing in nursing and midwifery is essential for achieving universal health coverage and strengthening health systems.
• Empowering early-career professionals through initiatives like the Nightingale Challenge is key to tackling 21st-century health challenges.
• Addressing workforce shortages and promoting professional development are critical for global health equity and economic growth.