ArticleNursing ethics2026
Ethical implications of nurse brain drain on undergraduate nursing students.
Article in Nursing ethics, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
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Who cites it
2 citing papers in PubMed.
- Producing Mobility, Withholding Authority: Epistemic Drain and Nursing Sovereignty in Nepal.Nursing philosophy : an international journal for healthcare professionals · 2026Article
- Training for departure? Policy, professional portability, and the fragile future of Nepal's nursing workforce.Frontiers in health services · 2026Review
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Authors and funding
2 authors.
Funding
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Abstract
BackgroundGlobal healthcare worker migration, often termed "brain drain," poses profound ethical challenges for low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) such as Nepal. Although the economic and professional drivers behind nurse migration are relatively well-documented, the ethical implications for nursing students-who witness this dynamic during their formative training-remain insufficiently examined.AimThis study investigated how undergraduate nursing students in Nepal perceive and navigate the ethical dimensions of nurse brain drain.Research DesignA descriptive phenomenological design was employed. Data was collected through semi-structured interviews and analyzed using a thematic approach.Participants and Research ContextSixteen third- and fourth-year Bachelor of Science in Nursing students at a tertiary institution in Chitwan, Nepal, were purposively sampled.Ethical ConsiderationsThe Nepal Health Research Council (NHRC-277/2024) granted ethical approval. Informed consent was obtained from all participants, who were assured of their right to confidentiality and withdrawal rights.ResultsThe findings revealed a profound ethical narrative captured in five interconnected themes. Participants are caught in "The Dissonance of Duty," a core conflict exacerbated by witnessing "The Eroding Ideal" of their profession within a strained system and the subsequent "Ripple Effect of Absent Role Models." This compels a complex process of "justifications, rationalizations, and lingering doubts regarding migration." Ultimately, many resolve this tension by "Reimagining Patriotism in a Globalized Profession," framing their potential departure as a new form of transnational contribution.ConclusionsNepalese nursing students are active moral agents, rethinking duty and national allegiance in a context marked by workforce shortages and global opportunity. Addressing these ethical dilemmas demands curricular reforms emphasizing real-world decision-making, transnational mentorship opportunities, and systemic improvements in working conditions. Fostering an environment that inspires rather than compels loyalty is crucial for sustaining Nepal's healthcare workforce-a lesson of considerable relevance to other LMICs confronting similar migration pressures.
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