A nurse's assistant arrives on the ward, but the nurses rise up: 'Patients at risk'.

In 2025, a new figure will arrive in hospitals and nursing homes, the nursing assistant, a new healthcare professional somewhere between the social worker (the Oss) and the nurse. It is a response to the very serious shortage of professionals that is becoming a problem in the public sector, but also in the private sector. Its identikit - requirements, training courses, etc. - is outlined in the agreement in the State-Regions Conference approved a few days ago together with another measure that provides for the restyling of the Oss.

The reform of the nurse's assistant has, however, triggered an uprising of shields from the nursing profession, which fears a "hybrid" that, according to the trade unions, does not guarantee safety, for which, they say, more extensive training is needed to get their hands on patients. So much so that the nurses are now ready to protest against the new figure for which the green light arrived this week at the State-Regions Conference. "The government and the regions have ignored the negative opinions of national and international experts, including the European Federation of Nurses," the unions warn. The new figure with 500 hours of training, to give a few examples, will be able to intervene on the patient for medication, injections, and even for the use of the oro-tracheal tube, "with the risks involved," explains among others Antonio De Palma, President of Nursing Up.

In essence, the decree explains, the nursing assistant will be 'an operator in possession of the qualification of OSS who, following a further training course, obtains the qualification of nursing assistant'. His or her task will be to 'collaborate with nurses by ensuring healthcare activities in addition to carrying out the activities proper to the profile of socio-healthcare worker'. And the objective, as the same act states, serves "the general need to respond in a differentiated manner to the growing health needs of the population". After all, today there is a shortage of nurses in Italy of at least 65,000, according to the Court of Auditors, but in the next ten years at least four times as many professionals will leave the profession due to age limits compared to the previous decade.

The areas of competence are articulated "in minimum skills and essential knowledge" and in particular - the text of the measure also states - through "health and first aid techniques and interventions" but also with "organisation and integration with other professionals/operators". For access to the Nursing Assistant courses, which last 500 hours (over a period of time of no less than 6 months and no more than 12 months), 'the qualification of socio-sanitary operator or equivalent qualifications' and 'possession of a five-year secondary school diploma or other equivalent qualification obtained abroad and professional experience as a socio-sanitary operator of at least 24 months' is required.