61% of nurses in Ireland are considering quitting their jobs, and a safe working environment is needed: INMO

In Ireland hospitals having significant Overcrowding impact on the mental health of nurses. In the last 10 years, 1 million patients have sought treatment on trolleys, according to INMO. According to 2026 figures, 61% of nurses in Ireland are considering quitting their jobs due to severe mental stress. 

The Irish Nurses and Midwives Association (INMO) has warned that the mental health of nurses is being negatively impacted by the increasing number of patients in Irish hospitals. The organisation has called on the government to provide more facilities to protect the mental health of nurses and take steps to control the number of patients. The issues were discussed at the INMO annual conference in Dundalk. 

The issues were discussed at the INMO annual conference in Dundalk. INMO Director of Professional Services Tony Fitzpatrick said nurses were constantly complaining that they were working on wards without enough staff. He also accused the law of ensuring there were enough staff but it was not being enforced.

Fitzpatrick said it was also unacceptable that many patients were being treated on hospital trolleys. He pointed out that over 1 million patients had been treated on trolleys in hospitals across the country in the last 10 years. INMO is calling for more mental health support schemes and safer working conditions for nurses.

Major impacts

• Burnout:  Excessive workload exhausts nurses physically and mentally.
• Safety fears:  Violence from patients and safety breaches are increasing in crowded conditions.
• Mental distress:  The inability to provide safe care to patients undermines nurses' peace of mind.
• Quitting a job:  More than half of people want to change jobs because they can't handle the stress.

Causes

• Number of patients:  A record number of patients are arriving at hospitals every day.
• Staff shortage:  Not having enough staff doubles the workload of existing staff.
• Limited facilities:  The shortage of beds and other basic facilities is exacerbating the crisis.