A Qualitative Study Exploring Perceptions of Pakistani Nurses about Nursing Workforce Migration: Analysis and Policy Implications

Background: The interaction of numerous factors leads to nurse migration. The poor national nurse production rate and the high incidence of migration of Pakistani-Educated nurses are the two main causes of Pakistan’s extremely low nurse-to-patient ratio. Objective: This study intends to explore th...

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Main Authors: Sumaira Khowaja-Punjwani, Darryl Macer, Nasreen Rafique
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Liaquat National Hospital and Medical College 2023-12-01
Series:Liaquat National Journal of Primary Care
Subjects:
Online Access:https://journals.lnh.edu.pk/lnjpc/pdf/08e819b4-65db-482b-b87c-bbb4d550042f.pdf
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author Sumaira Khowaja-Punjwani
Darryl Macer
Nasreen Rafique
author_facet Sumaira Khowaja-Punjwani
Darryl Macer
Nasreen Rafique
author_sort Sumaira Khowaja-Punjwani
collection DOAJ
description Background: The interaction of numerous factors leads to nurse migration. The poor national nurse production rate and the high incidence of migration of Pakistani-Educated nurses are the two main causes of Pakistan’s extremely low nurse-to-patient ratio. Objective: This study intends to explore the perceptions of Pakistani nurses about the migration of the nursing workforce. Methods: This qualitative descriptive exploratory study used purposive sampling to conduct semi-structured interviews with three groups of Pakistani-educated nurses: those who have migrated, those who are working professionally and have established their careers in Pakistan, and those who are student nurses pursuing nursing education in Pakistan from January to April 2019. The interviews explored the nurses’ perceptions of migration as a nursing workforce. Six analytical methodologies were used to analyse the forty-one IDIs that were performed. Results: Inductive analysis of qualitative data resulted in three main themes and nine sub-themes i.e. motivation for migration, contextual transition, and adaptation to the new environment. These themes were constructed from the image of nursing, work environment, scope of nursing, quality of life, beginning again, obscured individual identity, contrasting healthcare system, capacity building, acclimatization, and settling. Conclusion: We found that Pakistani-educated nurses are highly motivated to migrate. The most frequent causes of nurses’ intention to migrate were wage disparities, political upheaval in Pakistan, working circumstances, lack of opportunities for professional development, active recruitment, and personal safety. The findings can inform the policy of professional organizations and government agencies to decrease the brain drain.
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spelling doaj.art-2307d114590246e1ae16f6ef87b5630a2023-08-10T06:42:40ZengLiaquat National Hospital and Medical CollegeLiaquat National Journal of Primary Care2707-35212708-91342023-12-015317418210.37184/lnjpc.2707-3521.5.29A Qualitative Study Exploring Perceptions of Pakistani Nurses about Nursing Workforce Migration: Analysis and Policy ImplicationsSumaira Khowaja-Punjwani0Darryl Macer1Nasreen Rafique2Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery, Ziauddin University, Karachi, PakistanAmerican University of Sovereign Nations, Sacaton, AZ, USAAga Khan University School of Nursing and Midwifery, Karachi, PakistanBackground: The interaction of numerous factors leads to nurse migration. The poor national nurse production rate and the high incidence of migration of Pakistani-Educated nurses are the two main causes of Pakistan’s extremely low nurse-to-patient ratio. Objective: This study intends to explore the perceptions of Pakistani nurses about the migration of the nursing workforce. Methods: This qualitative descriptive exploratory study used purposive sampling to conduct semi-structured interviews with three groups of Pakistani-educated nurses: those who have migrated, those who are working professionally and have established their careers in Pakistan, and those who are student nurses pursuing nursing education in Pakistan from January to April 2019. The interviews explored the nurses’ perceptions of migration as a nursing workforce. Six analytical methodologies were used to analyse the forty-one IDIs that were performed. Results: Inductive analysis of qualitative data resulted in three main themes and nine sub-themes i.e. motivation for migration, contextual transition, and adaptation to the new environment. These themes were constructed from the image of nursing, work environment, scope of nursing, quality of life, beginning again, obscured individual identity, contrasting healthcare system, capacity building, acclimatization, and settling. Conclusion: We found that Pakistani-educated nurses are highly motivated to migrate. The most frequent causes of nurses’ intention to migrate were wage disparities, political upheaval in Pakistan, working circumstances, lack of opportunities for professional development, active recruitment, and personal safety. The findings can inform the policy of professional organizations and government agencies to decrease the brain drain.https://journals.lnh.edu.pk/lnjpc/pdf/08e819b4-65db-482b-b87c-bbb4d550042f.pdfpakistanhealthcare systemnursing workforcemigration.
spellingShingle Sumaira Khowaja-Punjwani
Darryl Macer
Nasreen Rafique
A Qualitative Study Exploring Perceptions of Pakistani Nurses about Nursing Workforce Migration: Analysis and Policy Implications
Liaquat National Journal of Primary Care
pakistan
healthcare system
nursing workforce
migration.
title A Qualitative Study Exploring Perceptions of Pakistani Nurses about Nursing Workforce Migration: Analysis and Policy Implications
title_full A Qualitative Study Exploring Perceptions of Pakistani Nurses about Nursing Workforce Migration: Analysis and Policy Implications
title_fullStr A Qualitative Study Exploring Perceptions of Pakistani Nurses about Nursing Workforce Migration: Analysis and Policy Implications
title_full_unstemmed A Qualitative Study Exploring Perceptions of Pakistani Nurses about Nursing Workforce Migration: Analysis and Policy Implications
title_short A Qualitative Study Exploring Perceptions of Pakistani Nurses about Nursing Workforce Migration: Analysis and Policy Implications
title_sort qualitative study exploring perceptions of pakistani nurses about nursing workforce migration analysis and policy implications
topic pakistan
healthcare system
nursing workforce
migration.
url https://journals.lnh.edu.pk/lnjpc/pdf/08e819b4-65db-482b-b87c-bbb4d550042f.pdf
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