Susan Osborne: Safe nurse staffing ratios must be mandated across the globe

Staff shortages and cuts to nurse leadership are worldwide problems for the nursing profession. We must work with our international colleagues to ensure staffing levels are safe and that nursing has a place on the global stage, says Susan Osborne

Developing nursing leadership and strengthening the nursing contribution is at the heart of the work of the European Nurse Directors Association (ENDA).

Founded 25 years ago to build a network between European nurse leaders, the association held its annual congress in Croatia earlier this month. Attended by delegates from the US and across Europe, including Scandinavia, staff shortages and cuts to nurse leadership were high on the agenda.

The previous month I met professor Reinhard Busse from Berlin’s University of Technology, whose