Strategies to enhance professional nurse's participation i continuing professional development at public hospitals of Limpopo Province

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Professional Nurses are required continue to actively engage in continuing professional development to maintain high standards of quality nursing care. Enhancing their participation in CPD is crucial for improvement and maintenance of updated knowledge and skills. Professional nurses have a responsibility to make use of CPD opportunities in their hospitals in order to advance their knowledge and skills. This study explored the experiences of professional nurses CPD in the hospitals of Limpopo Province based on findings developed strategies to enhance their participation in CPD. Aim: This study aims to develop strategies to enhance professional nurses’ participation in CPD in the public hospitals of Limpopo Province. The Specific Objectives of the study was to: explore the experiences of professional nurses regarding CPD in the public hospitals of Limpopo Province; explore the views of nurse managers regarding CPD in the public hospitals of Limpopo Province; develop strategies to enhance participation in CPD by professional nurses in the public hospitals of Limpopo Province; and validate the strategies developed to enhance participation in CPD by professional nurses in the public hospitals of Limpopo Province. Methods: An explorative and descriptive design was used; a qualitative explorative and descriptive design used approach was taken. The study consisted of Phase 1 which involved a scoping review focused on the analyses of experiences of professional nurses as they participated in CPD in other healthcare settings in various countries in different regions of the world. Phase 2 – The empirical phase focused on the experiences of professional nurses and view of nurse managers regarding CPD opportunities in the public hospitals of Limpopo Province and Phase 3 the development of the strategies and the validation of the strategies developed done. The interfaced findings from phase one were analysed using the SWOT analysis (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats). The Build, Overcome, Explore, and Minimise (BOEM) and Dreyfus framework including the CPD process were used to create strategies based on the findings. The researcher used the Nominal Group Technique Method to validate the generated strategies. Results: The strategies to improve CPD for professional nurses in hospitals in the Limpopo Province were developed using a qualitative approach outcome, guided by qualities of a conceptual framework that had been developed. The findings were the following themes Quality nursing care as understood by professional nurses in the hospitals of Limpopo Province findings were: Professional nurses’ understanding of CPD. development; vii Professional nurses’ views related to in-service training being offered and Identified measures to resolve challenges were sought, challenges included shortage of staff, lack of participation in CPD activities, lack of funds and lack of support and improper selection criteria. Professional nurses’ experiences regarding CPD opportunities at public hospitals of Limpopo Province recommended that more effective strategies are needed to address barriers, such as shortage of staff, lack of participation in CPD activities, lack of funds and lack of support and improper selection criteria. Nurse Managers’ views of CPD of professional nurses revealed that management and CPD providers need to plan more effectively for professional nurses’ CPD. The needs of the various age groups must be taken into account while creating CPD strategies, as well as challenges like a lack of funding and resources. Enhancing CPD opportunities for Professional nurses in hospitals of Limpopo Province: A scoping review. This paper presented literature review in the form of a Scoping Review. The paper gave the analyses of experiences of professional nurses as they participate in CPD in other healthcare settings in various countries and in different regions of the world. The result highlighted challenges such as lack of funds and recourses for CPD that health care institutions face which need to be addressed by the management. Conclusions: Six strategies were developed and validated. A strategy to facilitate functional CPD Training programs in hospitals, a strategy to facilitate appointment suitable CPD training managers, a strategy to facilitate nomination master trainers at ward /unit level, a strategy to mobilise training for nurse specialists. A strategy to ensure availability of resources and a strategy to ensure accessibility to institutional policies and guidelines. This study shared valuable information on Continuing Professional Development of professional nurses in health care settings. This study may share valuable information on Continuing Professional Development of professional nurses in health care settings.