Underfunding of nursing education and the precarious employment conditions of nurses: an exploration of contributing factors, Covid-19 pandemic implications, and structural solutions

The aim of this chapter is to review some of the intricate ties between the nursing profession, gender inequalities, and public sector employment and the resulting consequences of these interactions for nurses’ education, professional status, and employment conditions. While nurses play key roles in health service delivery, State investments in nursing education are insufficient and inconsistent, despite a strong body of evidence connecting such investments to improved patient and health system outcomes. The chronic underfunding of nursing education along with ongoing health sector budget cuts contribute to the erosion of the nursing workforce. Various reasons for the underfunding of nursing education and the continuing worsening of nurses' work environments are discussed in the context of policies that govern the education, health, and labour market sectors. Lastly, several recommendations are made for the adoption of multi-sectorial and upstream interventions that address such structural factors, including the adoption of gender transformative approaches.