Spanish nurse exodus surges 20% in 2025, council warns

1,356 Spanish nurses requested certificates of good conduct to work abroad in 2025, a 20% increase from the 1,134 requests in 2024, according to the Consejo General de Enfermería (CGE). The body representing over 358,000 nursing professionals warns that the country is at a “critical moment” for its public health system Source: elconfidencial.

Main destinations

Norway, the United States, Switzerland, and Ireland are the countries that most demand Spanish nurses, attracted by their high-quality training Source: infobae.

Regional breakdown

• Cataluña leads with 271 requests, followed by Madrid (225) and Comunidad Valenciana (217).
• Other regions: Andalucía (149), Canarias (108), País Vasco (73), Baleares (48), Galicia (45), Castilla-La Mancha (36), Aragón (31), Murcia (29), Castilla y León (27), Navarra (22), Asturias (16).
• The lowest figures are in La Rioja (7), Cantabria (6), Extremadura (5), Ceuta (3), and Melilla (2) Source: elespanol.

Causes and demands

CGE President Florentino Pérez Raya attributes the exodus to “temporary contracts, instability, and daily work overload” in Spain. He urges the Ministry of Health and regional governments to take immediate action to improve conditions, offering stable contracts and professional recognition. “We cannot afford to have professionals with one of the best trainings in the world and then not implement real policies so they want to work here,” he stated Source: infobae.