Research Article: Shifting Horizons: The Impact of Global Events on the Intention to Migrate of the Next Generation Romanian Nurses
Abstract:
Background: This article investigates the determinants of the intention to migrate of nursing students at a major medical university in Romania and relates them to major international developments, specifically the Brexit referendum and the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: An online survey about the intention to migrate was made available to nursing students at the University of Medicine and Pharmacy “Iuliu Ha?ieganu”, Cluj-Napoca, Romania, in 2016 (before Brexit) and again in 2016 (after Brexit), 2017, 2018, and 2021 and 2022 (during the pandemic). A total of 549 students responded (response rate: 84.6%). Results: Before the Brexit referendum, 62.6% of the respondents had a plan to seek employment abroad, whereas after the Brexit referendum, only 34.7% indicated that they had such a plan after graduation. Before the pandemic, 43.6% of the students expressed an intention to work abroad, while during the pandemic, only 19.8% had such plans. Conclusions: This study documented the effect of significant international developments—such as the Brexit referendum and the COVID-19 pandemic—on decreasing the intention to migrate. As expected, the change in preference for the UK as a destination country changed dramatically. Additionally, the study provides both theoretical and empirical insights into the types of and the consistency of preparation for migration of nursing students.
Introduction:
The migration of medical staff represents an increasing issue for both departing and receiving countries around the world. The medical brain drain has negative consequences in the form of under-provision of medical services in departure countries, who spend resources on the education and training of medical personnel and do not eventually reap the benefits of such investments. Receiving countries, in turn, also need to invest in the integration and adjustment of the newly arrived personnel, who are working in…
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