THEthe Italian healthcare system is going through one of the most critical moments in its recent history and the beating heart of this crisis has a name and a precise profession: the‘nurse. Despite, in fact, the assistance professionals represent the backbone of every hospital and of every clinic, today in Italy they find themselves struggling against a chronic lack of recognition, both economic and social. The wards of our hospitals are increasingly empty of staff, but increasingly full of patients, and this creates a gap that puts at risk the very stability of the public system that guarantees care for all citizens. And it is in this scenario of profound internal suffering that a “maxi offer” from Canada for our nurses sounds like an irresistible siren song,
Nurses, a structural shortage that weighs on citizens
In Italy, tens of thousands of professionals are missing. The estimates of the unions and professional associations describe an alarming situation: to reach the minimum standards of safety and quality in care, over 60,000 new ones would be needed immediately. This shortage, however, is not only to the disadvantage of citizens but is to the disadvantage of the nurses themselves who are subjected to exhausting work shifts, missed holidays and constant availability which wears out the psychophysical health of those who remain.
Among the lowest paid in Europe
Unfortunately, the poor valorisation starts from the pay slips. With an average salary that struggles to exceed 1,800 euros net per monththe Italian nurse is among the lowest paid in Europe, despite a rigorous university course and very heavy civil and criminal responsibilities. Added to this is a workload which often prevents us from providing the human support that is an integral part of the profession, transforming working on a fast-paced and unrewarding assembly line.
Backbreaking shifts and stagnating salaries are pushing more and more Italian nurses to look overseas. (Getty Images)
The golden bridge between Italy and Montreal
The proposal of the Canadian health structures, in this wake of dissatisfaction, can only make inroads. The Canadian metropolis has decided to focus decisively on Italian professionals, offering conditions that at home today appear like a mirage. Hospitals like the Santa Cabrini and specialized centers such as Dante, historical pillars of medical assistance for the Italian community in Motréal, are not only looking for manpower, but for clinical excellence trained in our universities, ready to be welcomed with an “all-inclusive” welcome package.
Not just a salary, but a life plan
Canada offers, in fact, flight payment, free language courses and constant support for immigration procedures, eliminating those bureaucratic obstacles that often discourage those who would like to try an experience abroad. The economic comparison, then, is merciless. While in Italy the salary increases are minimal and linked to slow contractual dynamics, in Montreal the gross monthly salary can vary between 4,380 and 8,140 Canadian dollars. Translated into euros, we are talking about a figure that varies between 3,700 and over 5,000 euros per monthdepending on the level of experience gained.
Benefits, Montreal’s trump card
In addition to the monetary component, the Canadian system places a lot of emphasis on worker well-being. In fact, the offer provides step-by-step support in the process of work and social inclusion. Those who choose to leave are not left alone to manage the changebut receives assistance to find accommodation and to integrate their family into the new context, making the transfer a peaceful transition supported by local institutions.
The necessary requirements for the application
For those who decide to take this opportunity, the entry requirements are clear and defined. It is essential to have a degree in nursing and to have gained at least one year of documentable professional experience. A central point of the selection concerns language skills: Since Quebec is a French-speaking province, intermediate knowledge of the French language is required to be able to communicate effectively with patients. At the same time, knowledge of the Italian language is enhanced, as the structures involved they historically serve a large community of Italian origin living in Montreal. This linguistic combination makes the Italian nurse the ideal candidate for these positions.
Goodbye nurses? The risk of a definitive hemorrhage of talent
For Italy, it is clear that this offer represents a real danger. Training a nurse has a high cost for the State and for families, but if once the professional graduates he finds better conditions overseas, the country’s investment turns into a gift for foreign healthcare systems. The risk is that of a talent drain with no return. Without a profound reform that restores economic and professional dignity to Italian nurses, they will continue to be impossible to compete with nations like Canada. For this reason, the challenge for the future of our healthcare must necessarily pass from start valuing those who take care of our health again.
