Determinants and Mitigating Factors of Brain Drain among Ghanaian Nurses: Insights from Nurse Managers in Northern Ghana—A Qualitative Inquiry

Abstract

Background. Nurse emigration, often termed “brain drain,” poses significant challenges to Ghana’s healthcare sector. Aim. This study explores nurse managers’ perspectives on determinants and strategies for mitigating nurse emigration in Northern Ghana. Methods. Sixteen nurse managers were interviewed using semistructured interviews between October and December 2023. Purposive sampling was used to select the participants. QDA Miner Lite version 6 was used for systematic coding and thematic data analysis, following the conventional content analysis approach. Results. Following data encoding and classification, the study identified three primary categories: determinants of brain drain, impact of brain drain on the healthcare system, and mitigating factors of brain drain. Conclusion. The study reveals that various factors, including inadequate pay, limited opportunities for career growth, and lack of access to technology, drive the brain drain among Ghanaian nurses. These lead to negative impacts on the healthcare system, such as increased workload, reduced patient satisfaction, and a shortage of skilled nurses. To tackle this issue, solutions including offering career advancement opportunities and improving salaries and working conditions among others have been highlighted to mitigate the brain drain among Ghanaian nurses.