Israeli registered nurse workforce

This commentary on the article by Nirel, Riba, Reicher and Toren, "Registered nurses in Israel - workforce employment characteristics and projected supply", describes major findings from this important Israeli study and links findings to other nursing workforce studies worldwide. Israeli projections include a 25% decrease in RNs in the workforce by 2028; the greater likelihood of leaving the progression of young nurses compared to older nurses, and the greater likelihood of leaving the profession by those nurses with no advanced training. Suggestions are made for future workforce analysis to triangulate economic analysis and policy planning, work design, and workforce management; for policy and planning and budget allocation at the macro level to go hand-in-hand with work design and management strategies at the micro level; and for the development of a national nursing workforce plan for investment and reform with a timeline and specific dates for accomplishing separate goals for recruitment and retention. This is a commentary on http://www.ijhpr.org/content/1/1/11/.