Keywords
Brain drain
Student attitudes
Pakistan
Health workforce
How to Cite
Abstract
Background: Pakistan faces a critical nursing shortage, worsened by the migration of trained nurses abroad. Despite growing demand, interest among students in pursuing nursing remains limited, particularly in Punjab.
Materials and Methods: The survey results revealed that 82.8% of students reported no interest in pursuing nursing as a career, while only 10.9% expressed willingness and 6.3% remained undecided. Furthermore, 68.8% stated they would not recommend nursing to others, with low pay (71.9%) and high workload (65.6%) identified as the most common negative factors.
Results: In conclusion, these findings emphasize the urgent need for policy reforms to improve working conditions, compensation, and career prospects in order to enhance the attractiveness of nursing among students.
Conclusion: Strengthening financial incentives, professional recognition, and retention strategies is essential to address declining student interest and reduce nurse migration.