TALLINN - Nurses lack the time and energy to communicate with patients, as their workload is too heavy due to a shortage of staff, the Estonian Nurses Union announced after a new health care report.
"In order to comply with all the international recommendations concerning health care, Estonia needs in the estimation of the Nurses Union nearly 4,000 more nurses," the president of the union, Ester Pruuden, said.
According to Pruuden, increasing the number of nurses would significantly improve the situation and provide the population with satisfactory health care.
But this hinges on improving nurses' work conditions, including a worthy and motivating pay, the union said.