Issues affecting state-registered nurses’ and midwives’ decisions to pursue university nursing education in Cameroon (original) (raw)
2023, Grace Tadzong-Awasum
Healthcare delivery globally is getting more and more complex requiring adequately prepared nurses and midwives to meet healthcare demands. University nursing education has contributed to improving healthcare outcomes in many countries. This can be seen through the confidence and competence of nurses and midwives who are prepared to meet the needs of diverse populations. University nursing education in Cameroon is an emerging discipline that has faced lots of criticism amidst a declining workforce and quality of care in most settings. The objective of this study was to identify issues affecting nurses’ and midwives’ decisions to pursue university nursing education. Methods: A phenomenological qualitative study was used to capture the voices of diploma nurses and midwives who were currently pursuing either a bachelor’s and/or master’s degree program. Results: The following three themes emerged from the data 1) The image of the profession and professionals in society affects nurses’ decisions to pursue university nursing education; 2) opportunities and funding for university nursing education are sparse; 3) nurses and midwives with a university education hardly find profitable employment. Conclusion: Nurses and midwives with advanced diplomas are known to deliver quality care such that investing in nurses is investing in the health of the population. However, findings reveal that numerous issues affect nurses’ and midwives’ decisions to pursue university nursing education in Cameroon. Nursing advocacy with competent authorities is required to resolve some of the issues such that university nursing education becomes a reality in the country. Keywords: University nursing education, nurses, midwives, quality of care, Cameroon
Loading Preview
Sorry, preview is currently unavailable. You can download the paper by clicking the button above.