Raising salaries and applying technology to end the nursing shortage.

A survey released in March of this year by the All-Japan Prefectural and Municipal Workers' Union, published in The Mainichi newspaper, showed that nearly 80% of nurses, clinical laboratory technicians, and administrative staff working in public hospitals have considered quitting their jobs.

Japan could face a shortage of 300,000 nurses by 2025, according to the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). Meanwhile, Germany could face a shortage of 280,000 to 690,000 nurses by 2049, according to the latest data from the German Federal Statistical Office.

And these countries have had to make efforts to find various solutions to address the shortage of nurses.

Applying technology reduces workload.

The problem may be partially solved thanks to artificial intelligence (AI) technology like ChatGPT, according to the Journal of Public Health and Emergency .

ChatGPT's ability to provide immediate and personalized feedback enables the application to support healthcare administration tasks and offer an educational tool for nursing training.

ChatGPT can minimize language barriers in healthcare facilities, helping foreign nurses interact with and support patients and colleagues who speak Japanese.

According to Sompo Holdings, one of Japan's largest insurance companies and operator of approximately 280 nursing homes nationwide, new data analytics methods are helping to reduce workload and provide more tailored care.

Sompo has partnered with Palantir, a leading US company in big data analytics, to develop software that combines AI and data analysis related to sleep, diet, treatment, and physical activity.

Sompo has equipped all the hospital beds at one of its Tokyo facilities with sensors that measure body movement, breathing rate, and heart rate to assess sleep status. These sensors give nurses an additional tool to predict when patients may need assistance during the night.

Data analysis allows nurses to spend 2-3 hours each day communicating with patients, instead of dealing with paperwork or performing unnecessary examinations.

Sompo says that by implementing this technology, workloads could decrease by 15% and costs could drop by $60,000 per year.

Ken Endo, CEO of Sompo's nursing and aged care business, argues that using big data can improve the quality of care and allow nurses to "focus on what only humans can do."

Improving working conditions can motivate staff and enhance the social standing of nurses, he told The Financial Times .

Salary increase and training allowance for nurses.

The All-Japan Prefectural and Municipal Workers' Union proposed ensuring that staffing levels correspond to workload, in addition to raising wages, at public and government- run medical facilities.

The Council for the Promotion of Regulatory Reform, as reported by Nikkei Asia, stated that Japan should allow nurses to handle more tasks independently, rather than relying on doctors.

This council recommends sharing the responsibilities of doctors and nurses. Authorities should provide specific guidance on what nurses can do independently without consulting a doctor, such as administering medication.

The council also called for greater use of digital technology to boost productivity.

Meanwhile, Japan's Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare has increased financial support for hospitals to recruit nurses.

The government is also focusing on improving working conditions for nurses. Specifically, it is reviewing the shift system, emphasizing work-life balance, career advancement opportunities, and ensuring sustainable working conditions for nurses.

In Germany, the government has implemented drastic measures such as increasing nurses' salaries and providing subsidies for nursing students.

In March of this year, Germany increased the salaries of nurses working in public health facilities.

The salary increase will be implemented in two stages. In the first stage, the salary will be increased by 200 euros. This will be followed by a further increase of 5.5%.

The German government also passed a draft law to strengthen nursing studies (Nursing Studies Strengthening Act), according to schengen.news .

This act introduces several reforms aimed at increasing the attractiveness of the nursing profession, including simplifying the recognition of foreign qualifications and providing training subsidies for students. Nursing students will receive a stipend during their training.

How can we end the shortage of nurses?

Many hospitals are facing a shortage of nurses, but recruitment is proving extremely difficult. To address this problem, hospitals have proactively posted job openings and are actively sending requests to colleges and universities both within and outside the region.