Emigration challenges for Iranian nurses: A qualitative content analysis study

Abstract Background The immigration of educated professionals, including nurses, presents a significant challenge, particularly for developing countries. There has been a lack of research in the Iranian context aimed at thoroughly exploring the motivations and difficulties experienced by nurses seek...

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Main Authors: Masoud Bahrami, Mahboobeh Namnabati, Neda Khalili samani, Hossein Ghasemi
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-04-01
Series:BMC Nursing
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12912-025-02900-9
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author Masoud Bahrami
Mahboobeh Namnabati
Neda Khalili samani
Hossein Ghasemi
author_facet Masoud Bahrami
Mahboobeh Namnabati
Neda Khalili samani
Hossein Ghasemi
author_sort Masoud Bahrami
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background The immigration of educated professionals, including nurses, presents a significant challenge, particularly for developing countries. There has been a lack of research in the Iranian context aimed at thoroughly exploring the motivations and difficulties experienced by nurses seeking to emigrate. This qualitative study was conducted to explore the challenges Iranian nurses encounter when emigrating. Method This qualitative study employed a conventional content analysis approach. The participants included 12 Iranian nurses with either experience or an intention to emigrate, selected in 2024 through purposeful and snowball sampling. They provided their written informed consent to participate. Data were collected and simultaneously analyzed through semi-structured individual interviews until theoretical saturation. MAXQDA software version 2020 was utilized to manage and analyze the textual data. Results Inductive data analysis revealed 22 sub-categories and three main categories, namely “Repulsions inside the country,” “Allures abroad,” and “Emigration challenges and obstacles”. Conclusion Numerous professional, economic, social, and political challenges within and outside the country and the aspiration for a better life and experience in a new setting, have resulted in a strong inclination among Iranian nurses to emigrate. Nonetheless, obstacles, including language acquisition, admission complexity, homesickness after immigration, and cultural disparities, represent significant hurdles requiring further investigation.
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spelling doaj-art-58ab0a8246fc4cd98f4c5c4f6c1d20fc2025-08-20T02:30:22ZengBMCBMC Nursing1472-69552025-04-012411810.1186/s12912-025-02900-9Emigration challenges for Iranian nurses: A qualitative content analysis studyMasoud Bahrami0Mahboobeh Namnabati1Neda Khalili samani2Hossein Ghasemi3Nursing and Midwifery Care Research Center, Department of Adult Health Nursing, Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery, Isfahan University of Medical SciencesNursing and Midwifery Care Research Center, Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery, Isfahan University of Medical SciencesStudent Research Committee, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Isfahan University of Medical SciencesStudent Research Committee, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Isfahan University of Medical SciencesAbstract Background The immigration of educated professionals, including nurses, presents a significant challenge, particularly for developing countries. There has been a lack of research in the Iranian context aimed at thoroughly exploring the motivations and difficulties experienced by nurses seeking to emigrate. This qualitative study was conducted to explore the challenges Iranian nurses encounter when emigrating. Method This qualitative study employed a conventional content analysis approach. The participants included 12 Iranian nurses with either experience or an intention to emigrate, selected in 2024 through purposeful and snowball sampling. They provided their written informed consent to participate. Data were collected and simultaneously analyzed through semi-structured individual interviews until theoretical saturation. MAXQDA software version 2020 was utilized to manage and analyze the textual data. Results Inductive data analysis revealed 22 sub-categories and three main categories, namely “Repulsions inside the country,” “Allures abroad,” and “Emigration challenges and obstacles”. Conclusion Numerous professional, economic, social, and political challenges within and outside the country and the aspiration for a better life and experience in a new setting, have resulted in a strong inclination among Iranian nurses to emigrate. Nonetheless, obstacles, including language acquisition, admission complexity, homesickness after immigration, and cultural disparities, represent significant hurdles requiring further investigation.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12912-025-02900-9EmigrationImmigrationNurseChallengeIran
spellingShingle Masoud Bahrami
Mahboobeh Namnabati
Neda Khalili samani
Hossein Ghasemi
Emigration challenges for Iranian nurses: A qualitative content analysis study
BMC Nursing
Emigration
Immigration
Nurse
Challenge
Iran
title Emigration challenges for Iranian nurses: A qualitative content analysis study
title_full Emigration challenges for Iranian nurses: A qualitative content analysis study
title_fullStr Emigration challenges for Iranian nurses: A qualitative content analysis study
title_full_unstemmed Emigration challenges for Iranian nurses: A qualitative content analysis study
title_short Emigration challenges for Iranian nurses: A qualitative content analysis study
title_sort emigration challenges for iranian nurses a qualitative content analysis study
topic Emigration
Immigration
Nurse
Challenge
Iran
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12912-025-02900-9
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AT hosseinghasemi emigrationchallengesforiraniannursesaqualitativecontentanalysisstudy