Italy increases nursing university spots amid recruitment challenges

Italian universities have announced 38,184 available spots for healthcare professions for the 2026/2027 academic year, representing a 3.6% increase. Over half of these, specifically 20,672 spots, are dedicated to nursing programs. However, data from the previous year indicates a struggle to fill existing capacity, with the ratio of applicants to available nursing spots reaching approximately 0.92 in 2025.

In a localized effort to address staffing needs, ASST Lecco has launched a public competition to hire 100 full-time, permanent nurses. The recruitment plan allocates 60 positions to the hospital hub (covering Lecco, Merate, and Bellano) and 40 positions to territorial services. Candidates must apply via the ASST Lecco platform by September 24, 2026, and meet specific requirements including a nursing degree and professional registration.