Introduction: Healthcare professionals` high turnover in our country is an especially topical issue within modern conditions. The reasons behind this ongoing process are largely due to nurses` emigration. Thus, the main task of healthcare managers is to focus their efforts on identifying the factors affecting the attitude of nurses to emigrate abroad.
Materials and methods: For the purpose of an empirical sociological study, in February - April 2014 a direct individual anonymous survey on health professionals` motivation to emigrate abroad was conducted. The opinions of 413 nurses from a university and hospitals for active treatment in Northeastern Bulgaria were included in the survey. A total of 11 types of departments and clinics, characterized by high intensity workflow, were studied.
Deliverables: The results of this analysis indicate significant emigration potential among surveyed nurses. Those who are willing to leave the country are highly educated younger nurses, whose point of view is influenced by personal professional experience. The intention to practice the profession abroad is significantly motivated by various aspects of work satisfaction.
Discussion: Similar to our results, a number of authors in their studies report data revealing the intention to work abroad of predominantly young professionals seeking higher payment and better perspectives for career development.
Conclusion: The results demonstrate significant emigration potential among the nurses participating in the survey. Among the individual factors, those which clearly affect the intention to emigrate are professional experience, age and level of educational degree. Work satisfaction compared to experience and age has stronger influence on nurses` attitudes to seek alternative opportunities to work outside the country.
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