Developing nursing education in a low-income country

Area of Science:

• Nursing Education
• Rural Health
• Global Health

Background:

• Challenges in educating and retaining nurses in rural, low-income settings.
• Limited understanding of nursing students' experiences in rural Uganda.
• Importance of preparing nurses for complex community healthcare needs.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the experiences of nursing students attending school in rural Uganda.
• To identify factors influencing nursing education in rural settings.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative descriptive study design.
• Semi-structured interviews with twelve nursing students.
• Inductive content analysis of interview data.

Main Results:

• Five themes emerged: external factors, physical environment, teaching/mentoring, technology, and clinical environment.
• Students identified strengths and weaknesses in their learning environment.
• Key areas for improvement include teaching resources, simulation technology, and facilities.

Conclusions:

• Findings highlight the need for enhanced resources and infrastructure in rural nursing schools.
• Recommendations include faculty recruitment/retention, professional development, and improved educational facilities.
• Implications for improving nursing education in Uganda and similar low-income countries.