Quebec Faces Nursing Crisis: 37 Young Nurses Leave Workforce Daily

URGENT UPDATE: Quebec’s nursing crisis is escalating, with a staggering 37 young nurses under 35 leaving the workforce for every 100 who join in 2023. The new report from the Montreal Economic Institute (MEI) reveals that the province’s ability to replace these nurses is rapidly deteriorating, exacerbating an already critical shortage in health care.

The report highlights that although the situation has improved slightly since a decade ago—when 40 young nurses exited for every 100 who entered—the current exodus is suffocating the healthcare system. “This exodus is worsening the shortage of health-care workers and putting even more pressure on an already strained system,” warned Emmanuelle B. Faubert, an economist at MEI.

The study outlines alarming factors driving nurses away, including long hours, burnout, and bureaucratic obstacles. According to a 2025 survey by the Canadian Federation of Nurses Unions, over one-third of nurses reported having worked involuntary overtime in the past six months. Additionally, 60% of respondents faced violence or abuse at work, and 25% exhibited clinical signs of anxiety, depression, or burnout.

Faubert emphasized that while there has been a modest improvement in turnover rates, losing over one-third of young nurses is unacceptable. “No province should be satisfied with losing over one-in-three young nurses for every nurse that starts,” she declared.

Despite efforts to attract international recruits through agreements with France, challenges remain. Faubert criticized the Quebec government’s recent ban on private nurse agencies, arguing it has backfired, eliminating 3.7 million hours of work—the equivalent of 4,400 full-time nursing jobs—in just five months. “Nurse agencies have been key in keeping more young nurses motivated,” she stated, highlighting the need for flexibility in their work schedules to combat burnout.

The crisis extends beyond registered nurses. Aliya Hajee, nurse practitioner and CEO of NP Circle, confirmed that nurse practitioners face similar frustrations, with 49% reporting burnout and 55% citing unsustainable workloads. “This is not just frustration; it’s a crisis,” she said. “Greater flexibility and adequate support are essential for workforce sustainability in healthcare.”

In contrast, provinces like British Columbia have made strides in reducing young nurse turnover by implementing streamlined licensing for internationally trained nurses and offering more scheduling autonomy. Nationally, the MEI found that 40 young nurses leave the workforce for every 100 who join, with vacancies across Canada nearly tripling in five years.

“Burning through our young nurses today means having no nurses for tomorrow,” Faubert warned, urging immediate policy changes to improve conditions for nursing professionals. She advocates for adopting British Columbia’s innovative shift-swapping pools that allow nurses to trade shifts without bureaucratic hindrance.

As the nursing shortage intensifies, the pressing call for reform in Quebec’s healthcare system echoes louder than ever. The fate of thousands of nurses and the wellbeing of countless patients hang in the balance, underscoring the urgency for action.