Introduction:
A deficiency of medical staff in many countries has already become a fact. This phenomenon is progressing due, among other things, to globalisation and internalisation of medical professions. Other factors which contribute to the deficit mentioned above, are the ageing of societies and an increased demand for medical services. Simultaneously, it is observed that adolescents become unwilling to undertake studies in medical professions, especially those which are lowpaid or socially underestimated and, at the same time, connected with a high responsibility and the necessity to extend one’s knowledge (e.g. nurses and midwives). The situation is being complicated even more by the ‘drainage of medical staff’ – a migration of professionals from the poorer to the wealthier countries.

Aim:
The aim of the study is to identify the professional and migration plans of the students of obstetrics.

Material and Methods:
Survey studies were carried out in 2013, among 41 midwives completing Master’s studies at Medical University in Lublin.

Results:
The occupational plans most frequently reported by the respondents related to undertaking a job in a hospital (92.7%) and expansion of knowledge (70.7%). Every fifth respondent planned to work abroad (22.0%). The main reasons for which the respondents tended to leave the country and work abroad were: higher salary (100%), better living conditions (82.9%), greater comfort of performing the occupation (63.4%) and a low status of the chosen profession in Poland (68.3%).

Conclusions:
Financial migration, in the situation of the surveyed, is a serious alternative to earning money and continuing a professional career in Poland. Nevertheless, the range of preparations for departure and optimistic visions of expanding a professional career within the country allow one to assume that the actual scope of migration among the researched can be lower than that declared.