Policy Initiatives and Effectiveness: Maldivian Nurses' Career Advancement and Remuneration

Area of Science:

• Health Policy
• Nursing Workforce Management
• Public Administration

Background:

• Effective career ladders and pay structures are vital for workforce efficiency in the Maldives.
• The "Job Family Standards for Nursing 2018" policy aimed to enhance nursing career progression and compensation.
• Assessing policy impact is crucial for evidence-based healthcare management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze the perceived effectiveness of the "Job Family Standards for Nursing 2018" policy.
• To evaluate the policy's impact on local nurses' career ladder mobility.
• To assess the policy's role in developing contemporary pay structures for nurses.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative descriptive study utilizing semi-structured, expert-validated interviews.
• Purposive and snowball sampling recruited 26 key informants (policymakers, implementers, stakeholders).
• Thematic analysis was employed to identify key themes in the collected data.

Main Results:

• Positive impacts included enhanced professional recognition, increased development opportunities, and salary increments.
• Negative outcomes revealed perceptions of an incomplete policy, flawed advancement pathways, and incongruent pay structures.
• Participants identified both successes and shortcomings in the policy's implementation and outcomes.

Conclusions:

• The nursing workforce policy has yielded some positive outcomes, including improved recognition and compensation.
• Significant challenges persist regarding professional advancement pathways and pay structure alignment.
• Policy revisions are necessary to address identified weaknesses and maximize effectiveness in career and pay structure development.