Curriculum framework for advanced practice nursing in sub-Saharan Africa: a multimethod study

Area of Science:

• Nursing Education
• Public Health
• Curriculum Development

Background:

• Advanced Practice Nursing (APN) programs in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) face challenges due to a lack of region-specific curriculum frameworks.
• Existing APN programs often rely on Western benchmarks, hindering local relevance and sustainability.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a sub-Saharan Africa-specific, concept-based curriculum framework for Child Health Nurse Practitioners (CHNP).
• To guide institutions in creating relevant and responsive APN curricula to improve child healthcare outcomes in SSA.

Main Methods:

• A sequential multimethod study involving a scoping review, Delphi study, and framework development by a curriculum team.
• Evaluation of the developed framework by faculty from 15 universities across 10 SSA countries.

Main Results:

• A concept-based Advanced CHNP curriculum framework was successfully developed.
• Faculty unanimously found the framework detailed, evidence-based, and adaptable for other APN specialties within the SSA context.

Conclusions:

• The CHNP curriculum framework is comprehensive, context-specific, and addresses critical child healthcare needs in SSA.
• The framework is adaptable for other APN programs, and nursing leaders should advocate for its implementation through collaborative efforts.