In a context of healthcare crisis, Italy is facing a massive exodus of nurses to Northern Europe. About 7,000 Italian nurses have chosen better working conditions, while our country turns to India to recruit new professionals, surely promising language courses, benefits, and bonuses that Italian nurses can only dream of. While wealthy nations try to grab Italian nurses to ensure high-quality care, Italy prefers to lose its own talents rather than offer decent salaries. The search for healthcare personnel in poorer countries, often with questionable training, further highlights the critical situation of our healthcare system. In Italy, quality care is often considered optional, a non-guaranteed right. Nurses, by nature missionaries (a serious mistake), have supported the National Health System, but many of them have realized that continuous exploitation is not the solution. Many have ended up in burn-out or illness, while the younger and more enterprising leave the country for destinations with better economic and professional conditions. Italian nurses are denied any kind of benefit: compensatory shifts, internal and external mobility, and economic progressions are given out with an eyedropper. Salaries are embarrassing compared to the degree and responsibilities involved. This situation is the result of an inadequate political class and inert unions. The solution? Join forces, raise awareness among less informed colleagues, and think in a utilitarian way for the profession. A survey by lapaginadinursingup.it revealed that 96.2% of nurses are not satisfied with their salary and working conditions. 62.4% work in a toxic environment, while 29% define it as somewhat toxic. Despite everything, 79.8% would prefer to stay in Italy if there were salaries in line with the OECD average and better working conditions. It is essential to remember this situation at the next RSU and the next political elections. We are an army, the largest, most prepared, and educated in the country.Proposals for the Future
