State of the world's nursing 2020: investing in education, jobs and leadership

Nurses are critical to deliver on the promise of 'leaving no one behind' and the global effort to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). They make a central contribution to national and global targets related to a range of health priorities, including universal health coverage, mental health and noncommunicable diseases, emergency preparedness and response, patient safety, and the delivery of integrated, people-centred care. No global health agenda can be realized without concerted and sustained efforts to maximize the contributions of the nursing workforce and their roles within interprofessional health teams. To do so requires policy interventions that enable them to have maximum impact and effectiveness by optimizing nurses' scope and leadership, alongside accelerated investment in their education, skills and jobs. This report, developed by the World Health Organization (WHO) in partnership with the International Council of Nurses and the global Nursing Now campaign, and with the support of governments and wider partners, provides a compelling case on the value of the nursing workforce globally. The report reveals much to celebrate about the nursing workforce. Opportunities for advanced nursing education and enhanced professional roles, including at the policy level, can drive improvements in population health. At the same time, we continue to see vast inequities in the distribution of nurses around the world which we must address.