[The concept of overeducation and its implication for the nursing profession].

Abstract

. The concept of overeducation and its implication for the nursing profession. Beyond salary-related issues, limited social recognition and the insufficient valorisation of competencies acquired through post-basic education or advanced professional experience also play a significant role in the attractiveness of the nursing profession. The concept of overeducation in this context refers to the mismatch between the level of education attained and the role actually performed. Despite its growing relevance, this concept still lacks a clear theoretical and operational framework, particularly within nursing.A narrative literature review was conducted using PubMed, Web of Science, and grey literature sources, including contributions from economic and sociological research to analyse definitions, measurement approaches, causes, and consequences of overeducation, as well as related concepts such as overskilling, skill mismatch, and overqualification.Published papers adopt different definitions making comparisons difficult. Overeducation may take individual or collective forms and can be either temporary or persistent, with economic, organisational, and professional determinants. It may impact on job dissatisfaction, turnover intentions, burnout, and the underutilisation of human capital, but it may also prompt proactive strategies for professional mobility. Measuring overeducation in nursing requires first clarifying how the concept can be operationalized within a profession where advanced education does not always correspond to formally differentiated roles. Studying overeducation becomes essential to understand the alignment between training, recognition of credentials, and the effective use of professional competencies. This involves defining appropriate indicators that capture the alignment between educational attainment, role requirements, and the actual use of competencies in practice.