Continuing Education for Haitian Nurses: Evidence from Qualitative and Quantitative Inquiry

Area of Science:

• Nursing Education
• Global Health
• Continuing Professional Development

Background:

• Lifelong learning is essential for improving nursing practice, patient outcomes, and job satisfaction.
• Haiti faces challenges with standardized nursing education and limited lifelong learning opportunities.
• Adequate continuing education is vital for the professional growth of Haiti's nursing workforce.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the continuing education needs and desires of practicing Haitian nurses.
• To contribute knowledge informing nursing practice and policy in Haiti.

Main Methods:

• A multimodal needs assessment approach was employed.
• Data collection included semi-structured focus groups and written surveys.
• Analysis involved identifying common themes from collected data.

Main Results:

• 100 surveys and 4 focus groups (n=33) revealed an overwhelming desire for continuing nursing education among Haitian nurses.
• Key themes identified include the necessity of continuing education for high-quality patient care and its life-saving impact.
• Nurses highlighted the need for more consistent and standardized initial nursing education and identified barriers to continuing education.

Conclusions:

• This study is among the first to formally address Haitian nurses' continuing education needs.
• Identifying barriers aims to foster collaboration for curriculum development and improved education programs.
• The research seeks to amplify Haitian nurses' voices, driving change in the nation's nursing education system.