Abroad Migration Intention among Nursing Students in a Nursing Campus

Abstract

Introduction

The migration of nurses abroad, especially after graduation, resulting in brain drain, has a significant impact on the health systems of developing countries and public health delivery. Different push and pull factors have been major causes of overseas migration among nurses. The objective of the study was to determine nursing students' migration intentions.

Methods

A descriptive cross-sectional design was used, with a total enumerative sampling technique to select 119 nursing students of Maharajgunj Nursing Campus, Institute of Medicine. Data was collected using a self-administered questionnaire from April 28, 2024, to May 11, 2024. The data were analyzed in SPSS version 25 using both descriptive and inferential statistics.

Results

The majority (60.5%) of the nursing students had migration intention. The major push factors were low salaries (93.3%), lack of personal and professional development (88.2%), lack of a good working environment (86.6%), and, lastly, family pressure (16.8%) and marriage (16.0%). The primary pull factors were personal and professional development (93.3%), high salary (88.2%), and future security of family (88.2%), and the least were availability of modern health facilities (79.8%) and political stability (65.5%). The migration intention was associated with age (p=0.000), marital status(p=0.000), educational level(p=0.000), family monthly income(p=0.005), and financing for the current education (p=0.017).

Conclusion

The study concludes that the majority of nursing students have migration intentions. Young, single nurses with a Bachelor's degree are the most likely to move abroad. So, the policymakers should prioritize retaining nurses by addressing major problems to strengthen the health care system.