Fears are growing that the overseas nurses pool is drying up

The University of Ulster project has been launched amid fears that the pool of overseas nurses may soon dry up.

Recruitment companies across the UK have been told by the Department of Health not to actively look for nurses from areas such as South Africa, India, Eastern Europe and Asia, although there is no formal ban.

Department of Health guidelines said it was essential that all NHS employers ensured that they did not actively recruit from developing countries who were experiencing nursing shortages of their own.

FACTORS CONSIDERED Pay Staff support Career prospects Stress of the job Problems in the workplace

The University of Ulster project is being led by Professor Hugh McKenna, head of its school of nursing.

Questionnaires will be sent to nurses who have recently left their jobs.

They will be asked about their reasons for leaving and any factors which could entice them back to the profession.

The study is aimed at identifying the extent of the problem as well as the level of experience of those who have left.

Professor McKenna said the supply of overseas labour has been drying up as developing countries want to keep nurses within their own health services.

POSSIBLE INCENTIVES Improved promotion prospects Better pay Professional development opportunities Childcare facilities More flexible working conditions

"Without sufficient nurses, essential aspects of care cannot take place - theatres can close, waiting lists get longer and people may die before they are treated," he said.

"It takes many thousands of pounds to train as a nurse, and from a previous University of Ulster project called the LIMBO study, we know that there are hundreds of Northern Ireland nurses who are not actually practising.

"Many of these are housewives or are working in jobs with drug or medical equipment companies. Many have young children and may not be willing to come back to the profession unless there were cr�ches and flexible start and finish times," he said.