A context analysis for the development of advanced child health nursing practice program in subSaharan Africa

2^nd Advanced Nursing Science & Practice

April 20-21, 2018 | Las Vegas, USA

Christmals C D and Armstrong S J

University of Witwatersrand, South Africa

Scientific Tracks Abstracts: Adv Practice Nurs

Abstract :

Aim: The aim of this study was to explore the �why� and �how� Advanced Child Health Nurse Practitioner programme could be introduced into the sub-Saharan Africa context? Design & Methods: A sequential multi-method (a scoping review followed by a Delphi) study was applied in this study. The scoping review framework developed by Arksky and O�Malley (2005) was to review literature on Advanced Practice Nursing and Child Health in sub-Saharan Africa to develop a Delphi questionnaire on sub-Saharan African context regarding the introduction of Advanced Practice Nursing (Child Health Practitioner) for a multinational multidisciplinary expert review. The Redcap online Delphi took two stages to reach expert consensus. Results: Children form the majority of sub-Saharan Africa and live in rural areas where access to timely, quality and cost effective care is difficult due to the acute shortage of medical doctors and inability of the countries to provide legislation and training for Advanced Practice Nursing programme. Nurses form the majority (above 70-80%) of the health workforce in sub-Saharan Africa. Introduction of APN programmes in Africa are opposed by the medical profession, lack of political will, inability of nursing councils to develop scopes of practice and physical and human resources. Advanced Child Health Nurse Practitioners are essential in meeting the sustainable development goals related to health in SSA. Conclusion: Nurses need to undertake research and take advantage of their overwhelming majority in the healthcare workforce to advocate for the legislation and educational programmes for Advanced Child Health Nurse Practitioner programmes in subSaharan Africa to meet the healthcare needs of the underserved children

Biography :

Christmals C D is a PhD Candidate at the University of Witwatersrand working on the research title ‘The Development of an Advanced Practice Nursing Curriculum Framework for Sub-Saharan Africa: A multimethod Study’. He has completed his MS in Nursing Education from the University of Witwatersrand, BS from the University of Cape Coast, Ghana. He was a former Clinical Educator for West End University College, Ghana and two other Nursing Colleges in Ghana. He is a multiple Academic Merit award winner and under the mentorship of Professor Janet J Gross.
Email:869108@students.wits.ac.za