References
Italian nurses abroad: insights into motivations, challenges, and opportunities
Abstract
Background:
Nursing migration to other countries has led to a reduction in the nursing workforce in Italy, resulting in increased workload and burnout for remaining staff.
Aims:
To evaluate the perceptions and experiences of Italian nurses who decided to work abroad.
Methods:
A cross-sectional study was conducted using an ad hoc online questionnaire.
Findings:
This study explored the perceptions and experiences of 244 Italian nurses working abroad. The primary motivations included personal growth, economic dissatisfaction in Italy, and exposure to new cultures. Most participants worked in Europe, particularly England and Germany. Although 71% found the documentation process straightforward, 23% faced adjustment challenges, often citing cultural differences and language barriers. Nurses abroad reported high job satisfaction (mean score=135.13), linked to better salaries and career opportunities. Most participants (93%) recommended working abroad but emphasised systemic reforms in the Italian healthcare system, including competitive salaries, recognition of qualifications, and improved recruitment processes, to retain skilled nurses and prevent ‘brain drain’.
Conclusion:
The Italian healthcare system must learn from the successful models adopted abroad to improve working conditions and counter the migration of skilled professionals. Beyond economic incentives, this study highlights the need for greater recognition of nurses' roles, both socially and professionally. Improving work environments and fostering respect and empowerment can reduce migration and ensure the sustainability of healthcare services while preparing future generations to deliver high-quality care.
Around 48 000 Italian nurses left to work abroad from 2000 to 2022. The most common destinations included the UK, Switzerland, Germany, France, and Belgium (Nisi, 2023). In addition to the migration phenomenon, it is important to consider that the trend for nurses leaving the profession accelerated during the COVID-19 pandemic years, with about 17 000 nurses leaving during that period (Lopes, 2025).
According to the Italian National Federation of Nursing Professionals (Federazione Nazionale Ordini Professioni Infermieristiche – FNOPI), many Italian nurses have been stimulated to stay abroad by the search for better professional opportunities, more rewarding career opportunities and better working conditions (FNOPI, 2020). Other reasons include wage stagnation, low salaries, and restrictions on staff turnover. Reports for the European Commission, on the other hand, have emphasised that increased remuneration remains a critical need for European nurses, noting that countries offering higher wages are more attractive (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and the European Union, 2024). Public perception of the nursing profession is strongly influenced by economic recognition, a factor that represents a significant limitation for Italian nurses in the national context (Lodini et al, 2024). For instance, the annual gross salary of a nurse in Italy is approximately €32 600, compared with €79 200 in Luxembourg (OECD and European Union, 2024).
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