Investing in the Power of Nurse Leadership: What Will It Take?

Meeting Sustainable Development Goal 3 by 2030—which includes achieving universal health coverage (UHC) and access to quality essential health services to all—requires urgent action to address a projected shortfall of 18 million health workers by 2030, primarily in low- and middle-income countries. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that nurses and midwives represent 50% of this projected shortage, making it imperative that constraints are eliminated on realizing the full power of the nursing and midwifery workforce.

Women only comprise 25% of health system leadership roles. Addressing the gender-related barriers to leadership that exist within the nursing profession and outside of it is critical to ensuring sustainable delivery of essential health services and primary health care to all communities.