A model for establishment of educational programmes in developing countries: the nursing paradoxes in Kuwait

Area of Science:

• Nursing
• International Health
• Healthcare Management

Background:

• Developing countries often seek nursing models from developed nations like the USA.
• This emulation can lead to confusion and challenges in establishing stable nursing services.
• Kuwait, despite economic wealth, faces human resource limitations in healthcare.

Purpose of the Study:

• To propose a paradigm for educators and consultants to address challenges in developing countries' nursing services.
• To identify and analyze major paradoxes hindering the establishment of stable nursing services.
• To provide a framework for understanding and resolving nursing profession dilemmas in diverse global contexts.

Main Methods:

• Development of a conceptual paradigm to delineate key issues in nursing service establishment.
• Application of the paradigm to the specific context of Kuwait's nursing situation.
• Identification of four major paradoxes through case study analysis.

Main Results:

• Four significant paradoxes in nursing were identified: educational needs vs. reality, locals vs. cosmopolitans, role congruency vs. incongruency, and medical vs. nursing conceptual models.
• These paradoxes highlight systemic issues in integrating educational and practical nursing aspects.
• The identified paradoxes are not unique to Kuwait but are prevalent in many developing nations.

Conclusions:

• The proposed paradigm offers a structured approach to understanding and addressing nursing service challenges in developing countries.
• Recognizing and analyzing these paradoxes is crucial for establishing effective and stable nursing services globally.
• International healthcare professionals can utilize this framework to navigate similar issues in various healthcare settings.