Migration and Retention of Registered Nurses - A Case Study of Freetown

This study was conducted based on the health needs and deplorable health situation in West Africa sub region with particular reference to Sierra Leone. A quantitative study with descriptive design approach was used to observe and describe aspect of retention situation of Registered Nurses (RNs) in selected health institutions in Freetown. The main objective of the study was to describe the profile of the migration of nurses and to provide explanations for the observed retention problem of RNs in the health sector of Sierra Leone and specifically identify factors associated with the movement of registered nurses from Sierra Leone to other countries. The research sample was practicing RNs drawn from three Government Hospitals and three Private Hospitals. Questionnaires were administered to 155 practicing RNs to elicit information on various factors responsible for mass migration. 133 questionnaires were retrieved, given a response rate of 94.4%. The findings of the study showed that about 40% of RNs leave the country for jobs overseas, because of poor remuneration, poor working environment, delayed promotion and lack of incentives. Majority of respondents in both health institutions recommended better remuneration and recruitment of fresh graduate RNs into government workforce as remedies to retention and emigration problem in the country.