Introduction. Lack of personnel in Polish medical institutions, demographic changes that create the need for nursing care, and increasing migration plans of nursing staff incline to think about the scale and causes of nursing students’ interest in working abroad. Aim. Analysis of nursing students’ professional plans regarding willingness to take up employment abroad. Material and methods. The research was conducted in the period from April to May in 2016. 150 students from Warsaw Medical University were surveyed (75 postgraduate students and 75 undergraduate students). Author’s own questionnaire was used to conduct the survey. Results. More than half of the students (53%) declared willingness to go abroad in search for employment. The most common reasons indicated for this decision were higher earnings, better working conditions abroad, and higher professional prestige. Countries chosen for potential migration were the United Kingdom and Scandinavian countries. Conclusions. Professional plans declared by nursing students show the need for action aimed at reducing efflux of young nursing staff out of the country.

Key words: migration, nursing students, professional plans.