More than 70% of nurses and midwives in Ireland report that staffing levels in their work areas are inadequate to meet patient demand, according to a new survey conducted by the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO).
Almost all respondents who identified staffing shortages warned that patient safety is being compromised as a result of these inadequate personnel levels.
The concerning findings also reveal that workplace violence is a significant issue for healthcare workers, with 55.4% of survey participants reporting that they have experienced aggressive verbal or threatening behavior while on duty.
The INMO survey highlights the growing pressures facing Ireland’s healthcare system, where the twin challenges of staffing shortages and workplace safety concerns appear to be creating increasingly difficult conditions for both healthcare providers and the patients they serve.
The findings come amid ongoing discussions about healthcare reform and resource allocation in the Irish healthcare system, with nursing representatives consistently calling for improved staffing ratios and workplace safety measures.