Obstacles And Ways-Forward To Upgrading Nigeria Basic Nursing Schools: A Survey Of Perception Of Teaching Hospitals’ Nurse Trainers And Stakeholders
Chijioke Oliver Nwodoh
Nursing Sciences Department, University of Nigeria
Jonah Ikechukwu Eze
Faculty of Education, Enugu State University of Science and Technology
Loretta Chika Ukwuaba
Faculty of Education, Enugu State University of Science and Technology
Ifeoma Ndubuisi
Nursing Sciences Department, University of Nigeria
Nneka Ubochi
Nursing Sciences Department, University of Nigeria
Ijeoma Maduakolam
Nursing Sciences Department, University of Nigeria
Ada Carol Nwaneri
Nursing Sciences Department, University of Nigeria
Ijeoma Lewechi Okoronkwo
Nursing Sciences Department, University of Nigeria
Keywords: Obstacles, Ways-forward, Upgrading basic nursing schools, Perception of nurse trainers, Perception of nurse stakeholders
Abstract
Abstract
In Nigeria, a nursing workforce with disparate credentials and positions has undermined the nursing profession's growth. This issue may be resolved if nurses' training were standardised, with a university degree serving as the sole admission qualification into the nursing profession. Upgrading current basic and post-basic nursing schools in Nigeria to degree-awarding institutions is one method to address all of these issues. Nigeria's teaching hospitals are well-positioned for this endeavour due to their already existing support structure and workforce. What the nurse trainers and the stakeholders of the teaching hospitals may hold for or against upgrading their nursing schools to degree-awarding institutions is a determining factor for the upgrading project. However, their opinion is unclear and has not been investigated in Nigeria; hence, this study specifically elicited what the respondents may view as obstacles to upgrading basic and post-basic nursing schools to degree-awarding institutions in Nigeria and ascertained their suggestions on the possible ways of overcoming the obstacles. The study employed a cross-sectional descriptive design and a purposive sampling approach to select 78 available persons from a total population of 87. The generated data from the subjects were analysed using frequencies, percentages and mean for the research questions and Pearson's chi-square for the hypotheses, with the aid of Statistical Package for Social Sciences Version 20.0. The result showed that lack of extant policy, funds, and disunity among policymakers of the nursing profession are the main obstacles to the upgrading. However, the results indicated that respondents' fears of losing their income source, admitting and creating low-quality nurses, and similar concerns are not considered impediments to the upgrading. Institution of the upgrading policy by Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria, funding, awareness creation for the upgrading, and unison among policymakers of the nursing profession, are the significant possible ways to overcome the obstacles. The respondents' perceptions difference between the two hospitals was statistically insignificant (p > 0.05). We recommend that the policymakers and stakeholders of nursing in Nigeria unite and liaise with the Federal Ministries of Health and Education for modalities and the actualisation of upgrading nursing schools to degree-awarding institutions in Nigeria.