A severe shortage of operating room nurses is creating critical workload issues at Thoraxkliniken, the heart and vascular clinic at Linköping University Hospital. According to reports, three experienced nurses have left the department in the past six months alone, leaving the remaining staff to cover increasing patient loads.
Maria Segersson, who has worked at the clinic for 22 years, described the deteriorating situation. "The workload has definitely increased on the few who remain," she said, noting that when she started there were about 20 operating room nurses, but now there are only 12-14 on duty.
The workload has definitely increased on the few who remain
The nurses face demanding on-call requirements, needing to be at the hospital within 30 minutes at any time of day or night. "You have to stay at home and are very restricted," Segersson explained.
Region Östergötland recently announced a one-year extension of a pilot project for reduced working hours, but nurses express uncertainty about the future. "We are very happy about the reduced working hours, but it's only a short-term solution. It must be permanent," Segersson said.
You have to stay at home and are very restricted
Louise Holmgren, an anesthesia nurse and safety representative with Vårdförbundet Östergötland, emphasized the need for long-term solutions to prevent more staff from leaving. Statistics from Sweden's Statistics Central Bureau show the country lacked 1,600 nurses last year, including 700 specialist nurses.
Between September and December 2025, staff were called in for emergency operations during 58% of their on-call shifts, resulting in 1,315 hours of overtime for those on call.
We are very happy about the reduced working hours, but it's only a short-term solution. It must be permanent