The Hidden Reserve of Nurses in The Netherlands: A Spatial Analysis

Area of Science:

• Healthcare Workforce Studies
• Public Health Policy
• Socioeconomic Geography

Background:

• Global and national nurse shortages are a significant healthcare challenge.
• The Netherlands faces a widespread deficit across all nursing roles.
• A substantial pool of untapped potential exists within individuals trained as nurses but not currently practicing.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the spatial distribution of trained nurses and hidden reserves across the Netherlands.
• To analyze the relationship between nurse shortages, hidden reserves, and population density.
• To inform localized policy interventions for nurse recruitment.

Main Methods:

• Geospatial analysis of nurse demographics and employment data.
• Comparative study of urban and rural areas regarding nurse availability and hidden reserves.
• Examination of nurse categories and their spatial distribution.

Main Results:

• Densely populated regions exhibit lower proportions of practicing nurses and larger hidden reserves relative to their populations.
• These same densely populated areas experience the most severe nurse shortages.
• The size of the hidden nursing reserve surpasses the current nursing deficit.

Conclusions:

• Nurse labor markets are predominantly local, necessitating place-based policy solutions.
• Activating the hidden reserve of trained nurses is crucial for addressing shortages.
• Localized strategies are essential for effectively engaging inactive nursing professionals.