1. Investing in Europe´s health workforce of tomorrow: Scope for innovation and collaboration Leuven 2010 Alena Šafránková, Veronika Di Cara Czech Republic

2. Shortage of Nurses - Measures to Stabilize the Situation In 2009 the Czech Republic had to solve the increasing shortage of nurses, number of steps were taken: changes in placement of nurses within the work catalogue, moving nurses into higher salary class improvement of the financial conditions in the state owned facilities subsidizing the education for Nurse Specialists - places for practical training - revision of the educational programs, shorter duration of the programs strengthening of nurses´ competences - reimbursement of nurses for more procedures by the health insurance companies

3. Measures to Stabilize the Situation legislation changes related to the procedures performed by nurses support of nurses returning after maternity leave - kinder gardens in the hospitals tendency to change the 2 different paths of basic nursing education – at the universities and higher post-secondary schools (not approved by the parliament) statistical monitoring of nursing workforce statistical monitoring of the numbers of nursing students support of continuous professional development – system of credits/points

4. Effect of the Stabilization Measures Positive in 2008 (nursing shortage of 1090 nurses) In 2009 (nursing shortage of 570 nurses) The positive effect was certainly augmented by the general unemployment and the return of nurses from other industries Negative - The introduction of benefits for nurses was followed by the requests for such benefits (mainly financial) by other professional groups - Smaller effect of the measures in private facilities (lower salaries, CPD – time off for studies)

5. Thank you for your attention! alena.safrankova@mzcr.cz veronika.dicara@gmail.comeronika.dicara@gmail.com