Factors affecting the performance of professional nurses in Namibia

Area of Science:

• Healthcare Management
• Nursing Studies
• Human Resources in Healthcare

Background:

• Professional nurses are crucial for global healthcare delivery.
• Nurse performance directly impacts healthcare organization productivity and quality.
• Identifying performance influencers is key to improving healthcare.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify factors influencing professional nurse performance in Namibia.
• To understand the drivers of both positive and negative nurse performance.

Main Methods:

• Quantitative, descriptive survey design.
• Data collection via questionnaires.
• Random sampling of 180 professional nurses across six Namibian hospitals.

Main Results:

• Negative performance factors include lack of recognition, poor working conditions, and absence of formal appraisal.
• Both positive and negative factors were identified.
• Strategies were developed to address negative influences on nurse performance.

Conclusions:

• Developing strategies to enhance nurse performance is vital.
• Building nurse knowledge, expertise, and leadership capacity is recommended.
• Research is essential for generating knowledge to improve nursing practice.