Perceptions and Motivations for Immigration Among Nurses and Nursing Students in Tunisia

The immigration of skilled healthcare professionals, especially nurses, from developing countries to developed nations significantly contributes to the global phenomenon of brain drain.

This study aims to explore the perceptions and motivations of Tunisian nurses and nursing students regarding international immigration.

A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted over a four-month period (February to May 2023) involving 290 participants: 240 nursing students and 50 practicing nurses recruited from public and private institutions in Tunisia. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire that examined sociodemographic profiles, motivations for immigration, and perceptions of professional opportunities abroad. Statistical analyses were performed using the SPSS software.

A high prevalence of immigration intent was observed across the entire sample (77%), with no statistically significant difference between the sexes (77.8% of males vs. 76.9% of females; p = 0.86). However, gender significantly moderated the drivers of migration: male nurses were more sensitive to job dissatisfaction and contractual instability than their female counterparts. Specifically, dissatisfied male nurses were approximately 3.5 times more likely to express migration intention than satisfied males, whereas the odds ratio for dissatisfied females was lower (2.5). Similarly, short-term contracts increased the migration odds more starkly for men. General push factors included insufficient salaries, intense workloads, and lack of professional recognition, while pull factors involved perceptions of better economic conditions and political stability.

The findings highlight the critical need for policy interventions to improve nurses' working conditions and professional development pathways in Tunisia. Enhancing local opportunities may mitigate the ongoing brain drain in the healthcare sector.