In general terms, what is the situation regarding nurses and the nursing profession in Lithuania today?
In 2018, the number of practicing nurses in Lithuania per 1000 population was 7.7 (Germany – 13, Finland – 14) and the ratio of nurses to physicians was 1.9 (Germany – 3.2, Finland – 4.7). About 22,000 nurses currently provide healthcare services in Lithuania but according to the Lithuanian National Audit Office, we need 2000 more nurses in order to reach the EU average. The current situation is best described as limited shortage.
It was projected that between 2011–2025 more than a quarter (28.1%) of the current nursing workforce would leave the profession, mainly due to retirement or death as well as a possible low scale emigration.
The nursing profession was not perhaps as prestigious in the past, but the situation today is changing. Lithuanian nurses have gained more autonomy in their practice and their salaries are gradually rising. We want to help this development further and create a more attractive perspective of the profession itself. This may require a lot of efforts but it would bring a great sense of satisfaction if nurses would be recognized better, be able to suggest ideas for improvement and see them being put in place for a greater cause. This is where we believe the Queen Silvia Nursing Award will be most impactful.
Are nursing studies popular among students in Lithuania? Can you tell us a bit more about nursing studies in your country?
Currently, nursing studies in Lithuania are rapidly gaining popularity but until very recently the situation was quite different.
Soviet occupation in Lithuania resulted in no progress in nursing for many decades. Nursing education remained at the vocational school level only. Nurses experienced poor working conditions, inadequate salaries, lack of autonomy and low prestige during this period. Lithuanian nurses were able to function more independently and defend the professional interests when Lithuania regained its independence in 1990, followed post-secondary education reform which began in 2000 to meet EU standards. The Nursing Practice and Midwifery Practice Act passed in 2001 and nurses were licensed. Two levels of higher education were established: non-university (colleges/ university of applied sciences) and university studies.
Nursing studies are quite popular among young people in Lithuania now. Currently, about 2500 students study nursing in Lithuania. In 2018 about 750 nursing students were admitted into higher education institutions of which three universities had full-time 4-year studies duration and seven universities of applied sciences had 3,5-year full-time studies. All nurses with university bachelor degrees can continue their education by entering master’s programs, such as Advanced Nursing or Nursing Leadership.
Why has Addere Care decided to bring the Queen Silvia Nursing Award to your country?
We want to create as well as deliver a high-level standard of care to the elderly according to best practices from Sweden. We also want to simultaneously increase the prestige of the nursing profession by ensuring that intelligent and devoted talent is eager to become part of it, have an opportunity to be properly compensated with a respectable reward system.
This project will not only put a new enhanced way to care on the map, but also promote nursing across the country via a variety of schools and organisations. This would benefit nursing education as well as the services being provided in Lithuania and other countries, primarily throughout the Baltic states and Scandinavia.
Addere Care facilities in Trakai, Lithuania: