May 12 marks the International Nurses' Day. China's theme for this year is "Strengthening the Nursing Workforce, Safeguarding People's Health with Heart."

According to statistics from the Hunan Provincial Health Commission released on May 11, as of April 2026, the number of registered nurses across the province reached 320,000. The number of registered nurses per 1,000 people rose to 4.9, and the doctor-nurse ratio reached 1:1.24. The nursing workforce has continued to grow, nursing service capability has significantly improved, and the public's sense of gain in healthcare has steadily increased.Hunan has been closely aligning with the people's health needs to promote high-quality development in nursing sector. In terms of nursing workforce development, the province has established a comprehensive support mechanism through measures such as reform of the staffing filing system and optimization of performance-based compensation.

In 2026, the number of newly registered nurses increased by 2,515, and specialized nursing teams in geriatrics, pediatrics, rehabilitation, and other fields continued to expand. The structure of nurses' professional titles and educational backgrounds has been continuously optimized, with nurses holding intermediate or higher titles accounting for 31.84%, those with college degrees or above accounting for 83%, and those with bachelor's degrees or above accounting for 34.55%. The pass rate for new nurse orientation training in tertiary public hospitals reached 100%, with over 32,000 backbone nursing staff trained for 28 specialties including intensive care and geriatrics, along with 53,000 as nursing assistants.

On the eve of the International Nurses' Day, the province awarded commemorative certificates to 1,643 frontline clinical nurses with 30 years of service, strengthening their sense of professional identity.

As for improving nursing services, Hunan has focused on addressing the pressing difficulties and concerns that people face in seeking medical care. A total of 567 secondary-level and above public hospitals across the province have established "one-stop" outpatient service centers, integrating diverse services such as making reservation, payment processing, consultation, and guidance. To tackle the issue of "the whole family burdened for one patient hospitalized," the province has vigorously promoted "companion-free" care service. Fifty-six provincial key monitoring units cover all 13 cities and one autonomous prefecture provincewide, 115 medical institutions have served over 280,000 patients, and more than 3,000 nursing assistants completed the qualification trainings. "Internet plus nursing services" have achieved full coverage across all 13 cities and one autonomous prefecture, with 273 medical institutions and over 10,000 senior nurses participating, providing nearly 600,000 cumulative services that precisely benefit groups such as elderly and disabled individuals. Hospice care services are accessible in all counties, county-level cities, and districts, significantly enhancing elderly care service capabilities.

Humanistic care initiatives have been implemented. The province has guided hospitals to establish employee service centers and offer summer childcare programs to address nurses' childcare challenges. Meanwhile, mental health projects have been carried out in the hospitals, including the establishment of psychological counseling rooms and "nurse sleep days," as well as additional subsidies for nurses in special positions, all aimed at offering comprehensive care for the physical and mental well-being of the nursing workers.

This article is from Hunan Provincial Government. www.enghunan.gov.cn.

责编：王柯沣

一审：王柯沣

二审：秦慧英

三审：张权

来源：湖南省政府门户网