The lack of health personnel in Europe, worldwide, and our country is a negative trend that requires solutions to prevent long-term consequences. Considering the demographic and epidemiological trends from the future perspective, a multidimensional problem will likely await us. Elaboration Due to the ageing population, the proportion of diseases increases, and the proportion of technological development increases as well. This will result in a changed approach in clinical practice and, thus, increased demands regarding the work of all health professionals. There is a shortage of health personnel in all EU member states. Some countries (Norway, Switzerland, Denmark, Finland, Iceland...) have implemented the so-called ‘task shifting’, increasing the availability of health services and providing solutions regarding the deficit of health professionals. (1) In these countries, non-medical health workers with higher education are significantly represented. Examples of today’s nursing practice in developed countries of Europe and the world support this. An efficient healthcare system needs the stability of available personnel with adequate skills in the right place at the right time. For example, some specific tasks are transferred from doctors to workers with bachelor’s or master’s degrees in health fields, having the specific knowledge and skills. Today, the education of nurses is experiencing the most significant changes. In many countries, education and development of specific clinical competencies in nursing lead to the transfer of certain competencies from doctors to nurses. (2) In this way, nursing is critical in specific care segments because nurses can significantly reduce the disease burden as they are the most numerous professionals.
Copyright statement: Croatian Cardiac Society
Copyright: 2024, Croatian Cardiac Society
Date received: 20 September 2024
Date: 31 October 2024
Publication date: November 2024
Publication date: November 2024
Volume: 19
Issue: 11-12
Page: 653
Publisher ID: CC 2024 19_11-12_653
DOI: 10.15836/ccar2024.653