According to data from the Ordem dos Enfermeiros (OE), on 31-12-2020, there were a total of 78117 nurses in Portugal, registered in the OE. Of these, 24% are specialist nurses and 76% are general care nurses. In ESSEM's area of influence, there are 29% nurses, 5.2% of whom are Medical-Surgical Nursing specialists and 0.43% in the area of Critical Care Nursing.