Building resilience in nursing through strategic policy interventions

In the context of a global nursing shortage, this paper explores the concept of resilience within the nursing profession, highlighting its implications for practice and policy on an international level. Although resilience is a vital concept for coping with stressors, we argue that placing the burden of resilience on individual nurses may obscure systemic issues that contribute to burnout and attrition. Resilience in nursing is a multifaceted concept that should be examined critically. Relying heavily on individual resilience may inadvertently perpetuate systemic issues and risk internalization of blame by nurses. Upon critical analysis of recent global statistics, this paper advocates for a shift toward collective resilience strategies, specifically, nurse participation in policy-making. This approach not only addresses immediate workforce challenges but also reinforces the essential role of the nursing profession in shaping health and social policies, ensuring sustainable healthcare systems worldwide.