This study focuses upon the nurses' external turnover in Portugal and its key factors. Itintends to contribute for a wider understanding of the daily challenges Portuguese healthorganizations face nowadays, due to budget restrictions affecting the sector. The present research is based on a survey. The results point out to two variables with relevantinfluence on the several components of the nurses' external turnover, namely the type oforganization and the professional rank. Nurses move from the public to the private sector or to nursing schools in order to find better working conditions and acquire new skills.