Nursing Up asks that the "strenuous work" of nurses and midwives be recognized on objective, rather than empirical, grounds. It is essential that the enormous professional burden that thousands of nurses and midwives face every day is recognized. A job is defined as strenuous when it requires constant physical and/or mental effort, aggravated by factors that cannot be prevented with adequate measures. This definition includes the right to early retirement. How can the nursing profession not be recognized as strenuous, when it ranks first in national and international statistics for injuries and illnesses? In fact, nurses are the category with the highest risk of suicide and burnout according to international evidence. The Italian situation is particularly critical: the nurse/patient ratio is among the lowest in Europe, and the freeze on turnover in public healthcare has drastically worsened the situation. The average age of nurses is high, with an average of 48.2 years and one in four over 55 years old, an age at which many other working categories are assigned to less demanding tasks. The public must know that ours is the most difficult and dangerous profession, but also the one that keeps a country healthy. International evidence shows that a greater number of nurses means less antibiotic resistance, fewer deaths, fewer infections, and therefore a reduction in healthcare spending. Over the years, numerous nurses have been exposed to diseases such as tuberculosis, HIV, and hepatitis C, and many have died due to occupational exposures. Italy ranks last in Europe for the number of nurses and healthcare professionals, with one of the highest average ages. In Poland, healthcare professions are considered at high risk of permanent health damage and require particular physical fitness. Polish nurses can retire at 55/60 years, while in England they can do so at 50/55 years, albeit with economic penalties. In France, the retirement age for nurses is 62/60 years, with the possibility of retiring at 57 if certain service criteria are met. In Italy, the retirement age is 67, with a "discount" only for those who work night shifts, provided they do at least 64/71 nights a year. This system is inadequate and does not take into account the health difficulties that nurses face, often caused precisely by night shifts. Furthermore, nurses are the most exposed to biological risk, with thousands of risk incidents every year. Latex allergies and sensitization to antibiotics are just some of the risks they face daily. The Covid-19 pandemic has made it clear that healthcare workers can die on the job, but even before Covid, healthcare systems were collapsing. Nurses are a category at high risk of suicide, with suicide rates double those of the general population. In summary, it is essential that the strenuous work of nurses is recognized and that adequate measures are taken to ensure them safe working conditions and fair retirement treatment. This is an ultimatum, we are ready to take to the streets. Lapaginadinursingup@yahoo.com - Vincenzo Parisi
