Determinants and mitigating factors of the brain drain among Egyptian nurses: a mixed-methods study

A brain drain is a migration of employees in their quest for an improved level of living conditions, better earnings, access to advanced technology and secure political conditions in diverse places worldwide. The brain drain of nurses is an ongoing phenomenon that impacts the quality and quantity of the nursing workforce and affects the quality of care. The nurses' brain drain is commonly known as a result of the interplay of many factors. So, identification of these factors and how to manage them is a timely topic in nursing research.

This study aims to investigate determinants of the nurses' brain drain and mitigating factors from nurses' perspectives in Egypt.

Mixed-methods research was conducted using a concurrent triangulation design. A sample of 325 nurses who were working at an Egyptian university hospital answered a brain drain questionnaire while the qualitative investigation was guided by a semi-structured interview with a purposive sample of 35 nurses to elicit exploratory perspectives on factors causing brain drain and mitigation strategies. Results were analysed using inferential statistics and thematic data analysis.

Both push and pull factors can predict about 99.6% and 97.5% of the nurses' brain drain, respectively. Seven themes were derived from the qualitative content analysis, and six themes were categorised under 'push-pull' factors. In addition, the 'mitigating factors theme' was identified with five sub-factors as possible solutions. Economic and work environment reasons were reported as the most influential for nurses' brain drain.

Policymakers could use the identified factors from quantitative and qualitative data for creating a system that would improve nurses' conditions and policies, and prevent nurses' migration. Nursing leaders have a significant role with non-remuneration strategies in retaining nurses through creating an empowering work environment. In addition, shared governance, a strong nursing syndicate role and professorial marketing would be essential mitigating factors for the nurses' brain drain.