Determinants of Overseas Migration among Nurses in Private Hospitals of Biratnagar

Abstract

Background and objectives: Nurses are the backbone of the healthcare system, yet the migration of the skilled health workforce contributes to a decline in the skilled workforce available in their home countries. Understanding the factors determining migration is crucial for policy formulation and human resource planning in Nepal. The objective of this study was to identify push and pull factors influencing migration abroad and to find out the association between migration abroad and selected demographic variables.

Materials and Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted involving 210 nurses working in a private hospital selected through a non-probability purposive sampling technique. Data were collected using a self-administered structured questionnaire. Data analysis was done in SPSS version 16.0 using both descriptive and inferential statistics.

Results: The findings showed that 85.2% of respondents intended to migrate abroad. The key pull factors include better salary, improved lifestyle, a better future for the family, and professional development opportunities in destination countries. The major push factors were low salary, lack of designated posts, limited career advancement, limited educational opportunities and limited job opportunities. Furthermore, there is a significant association between migration intention and variables such as marital status, satisfaction with salary, family member abroad, place of residence, and plans (p<0.05).

Conclusion: This study concluded that the majority of nurses in private hospitals intend to migrate abroad due to key push factors such as low salaries, limited career advancement, and a lack of job opportunities, along with pull factors such as higher income and career opportunities. These findings highlight the need to enhance working conditions in hospitals, improve salaries and incentives, strengthen retention policies, and expand career development opportunities to enhance recognition and job satisfaction in the home country.