In this episode of Care Anywhere: From the Bench, host Lea Sims is joined by Lauren Herckis, PhD, Senior Director, Center for Global Research and Policy, TruMerit, and Rodrigo Gouveia, LL.M., MPA, Chief Global Affairs Officer, TruMerit, to examine trends and insights from TruMerit’s 2025 Nurse Migration Report. Drawing on data from health professionals moving across borders, the report provides a window into where nurses are going, what drives their decisions, and how those movements intersect with global workforce needs.

The research shows why global nurse migration is more complex than a question of supply and demand. Nurses are unevenly distributed around the world, and their decisions to migrate are shaped by factors including pay, working conditions, career development, education, family circumstances, and conflict. Their journeys are not necessarily linear, either: some nurses work in multiple countries, while others eventually return home. These individual career decisions intersect with broader workforce challenges, particularly in regions already experiencing significant shortages.

These patterns raise important questions about how countries can meet workforce needs without deepening shortages elsewhere. Lauren and Rodrigo explore the role of ethical recruitment and international cooperation, as well as the complexity created by widely varying education, entry-to-practice, and licensure requirements. The discussion also considers how credential evaluation helps regulators and employers understand qualifications earned across different systems while supporting nurses pursuing opportunities across borders.

Listeners will come away with a clearer understanding of what migration data reveals about global nursing shortages and maldistribution, why nurse mobility is more complex than simple “sending” and “receiving” patterns, and how ethical recruitment, credential recognition, research, and international collaboration fit into the larger workforce picture. Ultimately, addressing shortages is not simply about adding more nurses, but considering where professionals are needed and how their skills can move responsibly across borders.

Tune in to the full episode of Care Anywhere: The Global Health Workforce Podcast on TruMerit.org or listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite podcast platform. Explore more research from TruMerit through the research hub at TruMerit.org.