Facilitating the Development of Clinical Competence in a Low-Resource Setting: Perceptions and Challenges of Nurse Educators

Abstract

Facilitating the Development of Clinical Competence in a Low-Resource Setting: Perceptions and Challenges of Nurse Educators David Abdulai Salifu1,2, Yolande Heymans1, Christmal Dela Christmals1 1Centre for Health Professions Education, Faculty of Health Sciences, North-West University, South Africa 2School of Nursing and Midwifery, University for Development Studies, Tamale, Ghana Article Info Abstract Article History: Received: 7 January 2022 Revised: 25 March 2022 Accepted: 28 March 2022 Online: 27 April 2022 Keywords: Clinical competence; clinical nursing education; low-resource setting; nurse educators; qualitative descriptive Corresponding Author: Christmal Dela Christmals Centre for Health Professions Education, Faculty of Health Sciences, North-West University, South Africa Email: christmal.christmals@nwu.ac.za Background: The inability of nursing education institutions, particularly in low-resource settings to train competent nurses has been partly attributed to the challenges faced by nurse educators in the teaching of practical skills and in facilitating the development of clinical competence. Unfortunately, the perceptions and challenges faced by nurse educators in clinical nursing educationin diploma nursing education in low-resource settings have not been explored. Purpose: This study aimed to explore and describe the perceptions and challenges of nurse educators in the teaching of practical skills and in facilitating the development of clinical competence in diploma nursing education in Ghana, a low-resource setting. Methods: A qualitative descriptive design was used in this study. Nine nurse educators tasked with teaching practical skills and facilitating the development of clinical competence from three accredited diploma-awarding public nursing colleges – one in each of the three geographical zones of Ghana – were purposively sampled and interviewed using a semi-structured interview guide. The data were analysed with the aid of ATLAS.ti software through the thematic framework approach of qualitative data analysis. Results: Four themes, namely nurse educator and student factors, skills learning environment factors, institutional challenges, and regulatory issues, were identified and described the challenges of practical skills teaching and clinical competence development confronting nurse educators in the study setting. Conclusion: To address these challenges, policy measures should be implemented to ensure adequate national investment in nursing education and incentives to promote nurse educator development and performance. Nurse educators and their labour union should therefore strongly advocate for this transformation in nursing education.