Analysis of the status of Polish nurses working abroad

Background. Nursing increasingly can be characterized as a mobile profession. The freedom of movement within the European Union, the recognition of professional qualifications and permanent nurses shortages in developed countries, facilitates their migration. Migration of nurses may be a factor in both positively and negatively modifying the situation in the Polish healthcare sector.

Aim. Analysis of the nurses’ motivations to migrate and analysis of the initial and the current situation of Polish nurses working in the profession outside Polish borders.

Material and methods. The study was conducted in 2012–2013 and used a questionnaire method. The study included 25 nurses working in Italy, 19 in Norway and 7 in the UK. All study participants were women, their average age was 40.8 years. They worked abroad for an average of 6.4 years.

Results and conclusions. The main motives of the decision to migrate, regardless of country of the current residence, were financial incentives and better working conditions in the destination countries. Almost all study participants (97.8%) were generally satisfied with their work abroad and the vast majority (86%) again would decide to migrate. More than half of respondents (60%) do not plan the return migration.

Nursing Topics 2014; 22 (2): 130–135