Push-Pull Dynamics and Migration Intentions among Nurses in Nigeria: A Cross-sectional Study

Area of Science:

• Health Policy
• Nursing Workforce Dynamics
• Global Health Equity

Background:

• Health worker migration, particularly nurses, poses a significant challenge to healthcare systems in low- and middle-income countries like Nigeria.
• Understanding migration intentions among nurses in private sector teaching hospitals is crucial for developing effective retention strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the prevalence and key drivers of migration intention among nurses in Nigeria.
• To identify workplace and sociopolitical factors influencing nurses' decisions to seek employment abroad.

Main Methods:

• A descriptive cross-sectional study involving 124 nurses from a private teaching hospital in Ogun State, Nigeria.
• Data collection utilized a structured questionnaire, including the McCloskey/Mueller Satisfaction Scale, to assess migration intention and job satisfaction.
• Statistical analyses, including bivariate Chi-square tests, were employed to explore associations between sociodemographic variables and migration intention.

Main Results:

• A high prevalence of migration intention (95.2%) was observed, with 63.6% of nurses having initiated the migration process.
• Canada and the United Kingdom were the most preferred destinations for migrating nurses.
• Nurses reported moderate satisfaction with the practice environment, but low scores for staffing and resource adequacy. National-level dissatisfaction stemmed from political instability, workload, and inadequate staffing. Monthly income was significantly linked to migration intention.

Conclusions:

• Migration intention among Nigerian nurses is nearly universal, primarily driven by insufficient income, staffing deficits, and sociopolitical instability.
• These findings underscore the urgent need for policy interventions focused on improving remuneration, staffing levels, and national stability to enhance nurse retention.
• Nigeria faces significant vulnerability to global nurse recruitment, necessitating adherence to ethical recruitment standards and proactive measures to mitigate workforce depletion.