Israeli Nurses Warn of Burnout and Staff Shortages Ahead of Potential Strike

Nurses across Israeli hospitals are facing severe burnout and critical staff shortages, leading many to work while ill to avoid burdening their teams. Ra'fa Diab, a senior nurse at Rambam Medical Center, described relentless workloads with over 100% occupancy daily, seven consecutive shifts, and constant pressure managing complex patients and families. He highlighted the risk of errors due to exhaustion and the lack of adequate staffing, which has worsened since the COVID-19 pandemic and recent conflicts.

The Nurses' Union, led by Shaul Skif, has repeatedly appealed to the Ministries of Health and Finance for more resources, citing over 1,000 unfilled nursing positions despite official claims of adding 2,000 new posts. Skif criticized the health ministry for focusing on superficial improvements rather than addressing the root causes of staff shortages and excessive administrative burdens. Nurses report spending more time on documentation than patient care, with some forced to falsify task completions due to overwhelming workloads.

Veteran nurses like Irina Breib and Michal Harel from Carmel Hospital emphasized the stagnant staffing levels despite population growth and increased patient complexity. They noted the unfair compensation and the emotional toll of the job, including verbal and physical abuse from frustrated patients. Younger nurses, such as Ruth Boltek, expressed frustration at not being able to provide the quality care they were trained for, often missing patient needs due to time constraints.

Data from 2023 shows Israel has 5.6 nurses per 1,000 people, below OECD averages and even some Eastern European countries. A 2025 Ministry of Health survey revealed rising burnout, with nearly half of nurses reporting excessive administrative tasks and a quarter experiencing severe physical strain. Many consider leaving the profession, threatening future care quality.

Despite these challenges, hospitals continue expanding services, sometimes replacing nurses with less trained technicians, which the union warns endangers patients. With a labor dispute declared and strike threats looming, the union urges urgent government negotiations to improve conditions. The Ministry of Health acknowledged ongoing efforts to enhance nursing status and working conditions, citing a recent wage agreement valid through 2027 and plans for further dialogue. The Finance Ministry expressed surprise at the strike move, noting the current agreement remains in effect until 2028.

The nurses’ union hopes to avoid a strike but stresses it may be necessary to ensure safe, quality patient care amid the staffing crisis.