The Order of Nurses is expected to issue approximately three thousand professional credentials to newly graduated nurses this summer, allowing them to practice the profession. Since July, two thousand credentials have already been issued, with another thousand expected to be granted shortly.
However, National Health Service units have no room to hire these new professionals. The reason is the lack of approval of the Organizational Development Plans for 2026, documents necessary to authorize new hires in the public health sector.
Thus, the approximately three thousand nurses entering the job market now face a significant obstacle: although they have the training to practice, public hospitals cannot absorb this volume of professionals without the approval of the aforementioned plans.
The Order of Nurses has already warned about the risks of this situation, according to information from Público, although the article does not specifically detail what dangers were identified by the regulatory body for the profession.
