Determinants of intention to work abroad of college and specialist nursing graduates in Serbia. (April 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Santric-Milicevic, M.; Matejic, B.; Terzic-Supic, Z.; Vasic, V.; Babic, U.; Vukovic, V.
• Is Part Of: Nurse education today. Volume 35:Number 4(2015:Apr.)
• Page Start: 590
• Page End: 596
• Publication Date: 2015-04
• Subjects: Nursing -- Study and teaching -- Periodicals; Education, Nursing -- Periodicals; Soins infirmiers -- Étude et enseignement -- Périodiques; Nursing -- Study and teaching; Periodicals; 610.7307
• DOI: 10.1016/j.nedt.2014.12.022
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0260-6917

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="author" id="ab0005"> <title id="st0005">Summary</title> <sec> <title id="st0010">Background</title> <p id="sp0005">In a country with a poor economy and limited job opportunities, the outmigration of students is not commonly perceived as a problem but rather is perceived as a solution to the high unemployment facing young health professionals.</p> </sec> <sec> <title id="st0060">Objectives</title> <p id="sp0085">Study objectives were to identify the prevalence of intention to work abroad of nursing graduates to point to the predictors of intention to work abroad and predictors of having a firm plan to work in a foreign country.</p> </sec> <sec> <title id="st0065">Design</title> <p id="sp0015">Descriptive study, a survey.</p> </sec> <sec> <title id="st0070">Settings</title> <p id="sp0090">College and specialist nursing schools, Serbia.</p> </sec> <sec> <title id="st0075">Participants</title> <p id="sp0025">719 nursing graduates from the 2012/2013 school year.</p> </sec> <sec> <title id="st0015">Methods</title> <p id="sp0030">Voluntarily completed a questionnaire that was designed with regard to similar surveys administered in EU-candidate countries during the pre-accession period. Data were analysed with descriptive and multivariate regression analyses.</p> </sec> <sec> <title id="st0020">Results</title> <p id="sp0035">Almost 70% (501) of respondents indicated an intention to work abroad. Of the nurses, 13% already had established a firm plan to work abroad. Single graduates and those with a friend or relative living abroad were more likely to consider working abroad than were their counterparts (odds ratios were 2.3 and 1.7, respectively). The likelihood of considering working abroad decreased by 29% when the individuals' financial situation was improved. Factors associated with having a firm plan were previous professional experience in a foreign country, having someone abroad and financial improvement (5.4 times, 4.8 times and 2 times greater likelihood, respectively).</p> </sec> <sec> <title id="st0025">Conclusions</title> <p id="sp0040">The high prevalence of intention to work abroad suggests the need to place the issue of the out-migration of nursing graduates on the policy agenda. College and specialty nursing graduates and health technicians are prepared to work abroad in search of a better quality of life, better working conditions and higher salaries.</p> </sec> </abstract>