Effective workforce planning: Understanding final-year nursing and midwifery students’ intentions to migrate after graduation

Aims: To examine the factors influencing final-year nursing/midwifery students’ intentions to migrate following graduation. Background: With expanding global staff shortages, effective recruitment and retention strategies targeted at new nursing/midwifery graduates are necessary. Understanding factors that influence graduates’ decisions to migrate or remain in the health care organisation that supported their education is essential but under-researched. Methods: A cross-sectional electronic survey was distributed to graduating nursing/midwifery students across nine higher education institutions in Ireland with a 36% (N = 407) response rate. Results: 85% of Irish (n = 376) nursing/midwifery graduating students reported an intention to migrate overseas and 70% intend to return within 5 years. Pay, working conditions and career were ranked as influencing intentions to migrate. Multivariable analysis illustrated that educational opportunities and friends predict migration, while family and obligation were protective factors. Conclusion: Nursing and midwifery leaders and policymakers must reconsider recruitment and retention strategies and embrace innovative and responsive approaches to address migration intentions and trends. Implications for nursing/midwifery management: Strategic leadership is required to develop effective structures that support personal, professional and career opportunities for new graduates. Targeted recruitment innovations to entice graduates back into the health service are recommended.