Danish nurses shift to beauty care despite hospital shortages

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According to Danish public broadcaster DR, nurses in Denmark are being shifted to beauty clinics despite hospitals being understaffed.

According to the Danish Patient Safety Authority, the number of nurses working in aesthetic treatments has doubled in less than three years.

There are currently 662 nurses working in aesthetic care in Denmark, but in 2008 there were only 30 aesthetic nurses in the Scandinavian country.

Health economists say the situation is a “disaster” for the public hospital system.

“They are missing in hospitals. It is estimated that hospitals are currently 4,000 to 5,000 nurses short of reaching full staffing levels. Wait times are increasing. That’s why,” said Jess Sogard, a health economist at the University of Southern Denmark.

Switch to cosmetics for better working conditions

Tanja Rossau Adsersen, who has previously worked in both hospitals and psychiatric clinics, told DR: in an interview Difficult working conditions led to her leaving the public health service, she said.

She currently works at a beauty clinic.

“What I found difficult [working in public hospitals] It meant that I had to constantly compromise on the level of service I could provide,” Adsaasen told DR.

“[When working in public hospitals] “I would often want to go home from work thinking, ‘Oh, I turned the other cheek,’ or ‘There was too much pressure to handle it,'” she added.

The Danish Nursing Society (DSR) believes that the increasing number of nurses turning to cosmetics is a sign of their desire for better pay and working conditions.

“It’s easy to work in the public sector from time to time and help in emergencies, but the working conditions are far too poor,” Adsaasen said.

“Ensuring that there are enough nurses in the public healthcare system is not the responsibility of individual nurses. Politicians and Denmark’s regions are responsible for running hospitals,” said DSR Chairman Dorte Bo. Danbjorg told broadcaster DR.

“There are economic benefits. The demand for these cosmetic treatments is very high,” Laura Soderberg, a nurse apprentice at a cosmetic clinic, told the doctor.

According to the DSR, the basic salary for a newly graduated cosmetic nurse in Denmark is approximately 4,700 euros per month.

This compares to €3,755 for hospital nurses, who also have to contend with irregular working hours.

“I have never felt more like a nurse. I feel professional and competent, and I love the best version of myself. I will use everything I learn,” Adsassen said. said.

For more on this story, watch the video in the media player above.

video editor •Roselyn Min