The shortage of nurses is a chronic global problem that most countries are facing(Sanford, 2023). Before COVID19 pandemic, the global shortage of nurses was estimated at 5.9 million nurses, which increased to 13 million nurses worldwide by 2030(Jester, 2023). There are different reasons for this problem by country, but nurses leaving their jobs, immigration, early retirement, unwillingness of students to choose nursing, education and health policies of that country are the reasons for this shortage. Professional vision towards nurses, lack ofsocial support, work overload, and low-level job satisfaction, poor salaries or no changes to salary, and poor working conditions, and older nurses leaving work before their retirement age due to health conditions and limitations on new technology by older nurses are factors that cause staff turnover (Tamata & Mohammadnezhad, 2023). Nurses believed that some factors could keep them in the profession included professional pride, improved remuneration, recognition of nursing, professionalization, and improving the image of nursing as a profession(Roth et al., 2022). In contrast, four themes were identified as factors influencing the nursing workforce shortage, including policy and planning barriers, barriers to training and enrolment, factors causing nursing staff turnover, and nurses' stress and burnout (Tamata & Mohammadnezhad, 2023).Nursing students’ career future perceptions are considered an important topic (Tosunöz & Nazik, 2022). According to nursing students' viewpoints, there are several push-and-pull factors that determine whether to leave or stay in the nursing profession (Bentulan et al.,2022). Nursing students are often involved in questions and doubts during their studies about whether they have chosen the right field, whether continuing to study in this field will generate a good income for them, and whether they should continue nursing at a higher levelafter graduation. They are looking for answers to their questions in the university environment from nursing professors, their classmates, and hospital nurses. Nursing students are usually highly influenced by nurses because of their lived experiences. Seeing what happens in the hospital, the fatigue and burnout of the nurses, their dissatisfaction, and the insufficient care of the patient make a nursing student wonder if I will be like this in the future. In one qualitative study among nursing students in Nepal, four themes were extracted from interviews: (1) Aspirations Beyond Borders; (2) Navigating Personal Ambitions; (3) Socio-Political Currents Influencing Career Pathways; (4) Economic Incentives and Realities(Ghimire et al., 2024).According to Push and Pull’s Theory of Motivation by Lee’s relocation model in 1966, the person’s view of these elements impacts the genuine demonstration of movement. This will look at the inspiration for relocation by considering how Push (financial, social, or ecological) and Pull factors (work openings and accessibility of occupations, etc) influence the connection between beginning and objective.Increased nurse shortages will negatively affect the healthcare system and the ability of organizations to deliver the best healthcare(Callado et al., 2023). In a national study conducted among 850 Portuguese nurses, low intention to leave the job and high commitment to the organization were reported. However, in this sample, younger nurses had high tendency to turnover(Neves et al., 2022). Despite the evident shortage of nurses in the Portuguese National Health Service, job offers have decreased. According to the Order of Nurses (OE), 1,600 nurses left Portugal in 2023, 527 more than in 2022. Switzerland was the main country of destination (News, 2024).In one study conducted in Portugal, job opportunity and wages were frequent motivation reasons of migration of master students. Conditions in the origin country can shape the intention to emigrate of students(de Jong & Fonseca, 2020).Few studies have investigated academic and socioeconomic factors in the desire to migrate among nursing students. Understanding nursing students' intentions and decisions to work abroad is essential to inform the university nursing managers and policymakers about the current situation and lines of action aimed at talent retention.
The global nursing shortage, projected to reach 13 million by 2030, is driven by factors such as nurse turnover, emigration, early retirement, and low interest in the field due to poor working conditions, limited social support, and inadequate compensation. Although professional pride and improved recognition could retain nurses, nursing students face doubts about their future in the profession, influenced by observations of overworked, dissatisfied nurses and challenging work environments. Factors such as aspirations for international opportunities, economic incentives, and unfavorable clinical placements also affect students' intentions to remain in or leave nursing. In Portugal, despite significant nurse shortages, job opportunities have declined, prompting increased emigration. This study aims to identify predictors of nursing students' intentions to emigrate.
To determine the Predictors of nursing students’ intention to emigrate1. Estimate the mean score of nursing students’ Engagement2. Estimate the mean score of nursing students’ Economic Considerations3. Estimate the mean score of nursing students’ Professional Development4. Estimate the mean score of nursing students’ Socio-Cultural Pull5. Estimate the mean score of nursing students’ Personal Motivation6. Estimate the mean score of nursing students’ Policy Influences7. Estimate the mean score of nursing students’ Future Career Anxiety8. Estimate the mean score of nursing students’ Major Satisfaction9. Estimate the mean score of nursing students’ Intention to emigrate10. Estimate the relationship between nursing students’ Engagement and Intention to emigrate11. Estimate the relationship between nursing students’ Economic Considerations and Intention to emigrate12. Estimate the relationship between nursing students’ Professional Development and intention to migrate13. Estimate the relationship between nursing students’ Socio-Cultural Pull and Intention to Emigrate14. Estimate the relationship between nursing students’ Personal Motivation and Intention to emigrate15. Estimate the relationship between nursing students’ Policy Influences and Intention to Emigrate16. Estimate the relationship between nursing students’ Future Career Anxiety and Intention to Emigrate17. Estimate the relationship between nursing students’ Major Satisfaction and Intention to emigrate18. Estimate the relationship between nursing students ‘Engagement, Economic Considerations, Professional Development, Socio-Cultural Pull, Personal Motivation, Policy Influences, Future Anxiety, and Intention to emigrate with the mediation effects of Major Satisfaction
The research innovation of this study lies in its novel approach to understanding the interplay between academic, socioeconomic, and motivational factors influencing nursing students' intentions to migrate. These three innovative focus ensures your study contributes meaningfully to the literature while addressing a pressing global issue with localized solutions: 1)Integration of Academic Variables with Migration Intentions, 2)Application of Push-Pull Theory in a Specific Context, 3)Focus on Nursing Students as a Key Population. The societal impact of this research lies in its potential to influence policy reforms and academic practices. By identifying interventions that can enhance nursing students' satisfaction, engagement, and career prospects, the study supports the development of a stable and committed nursing workforce. This stability is crucial for ensuring high-quality healthcare delivery, reducing turnover-related costs, and promoting equitable access to care for citizens. Furthermore, by addressing the root causes of emigration, the research fosters a more sustainable healthcare system, benefiting both the local workforce and the broader community.
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Investigação e Inovação no Ensino da Enfermagem (IIEE)
Education and development of the discipline