Quality Assurance in Nursing Education: A Qualitative Study Involving Students and Newly Graduated Nurses

Background: Assuring quality training for future nursing professionals is essential to preserving population health and socio-economic development. Quality assurance in the European Higher Education Area places students in a leading role to transform and improve higher education programs. Therefore, an innovative way of reviewing strengths and weaknesses of the nursing education program of a Spanish university has been developed. Objectives: The aim of this paper was to explore the perceptions and opinions of nursing students and newly-qualified nurses regarding the contents of the nursing curriculum in order to improve its quality. Methods: Descriptive and exploratory qualitative research was carried out involving 12 newly-qualified nurses and 12 student nurses. Semi-structured interviews and focus groups were performed. Results: Based on the thematic analysis, two themes emerged: improving clinical practices and reviewing the theoretical curriculum. Conclusions: Among the improvements suggested by the participants, the most relevant ones were establishing a clear structure of learning contents in the practicum, and redistributing the European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System ECTS credits in various courses of the study program. However, additional evidence is needed prior to proceeding with any changes

Quality Assurance in Nursing Education: A Qualitative Study Involving Students and Newly Graduated Nurses

Background: Assuring quality training for future nursing professionals is essential to preserving population health and socio-economic development. Quality assurance in the European Higher Education Area places students in a leading role to transform and improve higher education programs. Therefore, an innovative way of reviewing strengths and weaknesses of the nursing education program of a Spanish university has been developed. Objectives: The aim of this paper was to explore the perceptions and opinions of nursing students and newly-qualified nurses regarding the contents of the nursing curriculum in order to improve its quality. Methods: Descriptive and exploratory qualitative research was carried out involving 12 newly-qualified nurses and 12 student nurses. Semi-structured interviews and focus groups were performed. Results: Based on the thematic analysis, two themes emerged: improving clinical practices and reviewing the theoretical curriculum. Conclusions: Among the improvements suggested by the participants, the most relevant ones were establishing a clear structure of learning contents in the practicum, and redistributing the European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System ECTS credits in various courses of the study program. However, additional evidence is needed prior to proceeding with any changes

Economic Problems and Loneliness as Factors Related to Subjective Unmet Health Needs in People with Chronic Diseases and Dependency

Background: The continuous increase of people with chronic diseases is one of the greatest challenges for healthcare systems worldwide. Population growth and life expectancy means that an increasing number of people with chronic diseases and dependency need some kind of assistance to meet their needs. Determining these subjective unmet needs helps to understand the situation of these people. The aim of this study was to explore the perceptions of chronic patients over 65 years of age from the day-care center toward subjective health needs that are not being met by the socio-health system. Methods: Qualitative exploratory-descriptive study. Through convenience sampling, we selected people with chronic diseases and dependency who used day-care centers and met the inclusion criteria. Focus groups were performed. The data were transcribed and a thematic analysis was carried out using Atlas.ti software. Results: The topics resulting from the analysis were classified into dissatisfaction of biological/physiological needs, psychological needs, social needs, and other issues that arose in both groups of participants which referred to the types of needs previously indicated. The issues related to social and psycho-social needs stood out. Conclusions: People with chronic diseases and dependency have their physiological needs covered with the help they receive, but their situation of dependency generates additional costs that worsen their economic situation. However, their greatest need is due to the loneliness they feel and the feeling they have of “being a burden” on their families

El sistema sanitario de la República Árabe Saharaui Democrática: Plan de Formación para Enfermeras Escolares

Treball Final de Màster Universitari en Cooperació al Desenvolupament (A distància). Codi: SRP531. Curs acadèmic: 2017-2018Desde el marco de la Salud, la Universidad de Jaén (UJA), está trabajando en varios proyectos de Cooperación al Desarrollo con la población saharaui en los Campamentos de Refugiados (CRS) de Tindouf (Argelia) con la positiva intención de mejorar la situación sanitaria de los CR a través de la formación de su personal sanitario. Tanto la educación como la salud, ocupan un lugar fundamental en la Agenda 2030 para el desarrollo humano. Tal y como promueve la agenda, las personas necesitan adquirir conocimientos, habilidades, valores y actitudes que las empoderen para contribuir al desarrollo sostenible, y asimismo garantizar una vida saludable una promoción del bienestar para todos a cualquier edad. En este escenario de refugio prolongado, es trascendental la ayuda de aquellas organizaciones que sean capaces de cubrir las necesidades no cubiertas por el Sistema de Salud Saharaui. Razón esta, para trabajar con las Enfermeras Escolares en su formación y capacitación ya que se encuentran con enormes problemas por no tener acceso a acciones formativas que puedan reciclar sus conocimientos,mejorarlos y/o aprender nuevas técnicas. Se ha elaborado y ejecutado un Plan de Formación específico para ellas de acuerdo a sus necesidades teniendo siempre en cuenta el contexto social, político y cultural en el que trabajan. Proporcionándoles herramientas útiles para el desempeño diario así como un botiquín de primeros auxilios demandado desde el inicio tanto por ellas como por el responsable de Salud Escolar.From the concept of Health, the University of Jaén is working on several Development Cooperation projects with the Saharawi population in the refugee camps of Tindouf (Algeria) with the positive intention of improving the health situation of the camps through training of your healthcare staff. Both education and health occupy a fundamental place in the 2030 Agenda for human development. As it promotes the agenda, people need to acquire knowledge, skills, values and attitudes that empower them to contribute to sustainable development, and also ensure a healthy life and a promotion of well-being for all at any age. In this scenario of prolonged refuge, the help of those organizations that can meet the needs not covered by the Saharawi Health System is of the utmost importance. This is the reason to work with the School Nurses in their training because they are faced with serious problems because they do not have access to training actions that can recycle their knowledge, improve them and / or learn new techniques. A specific Training Plan has been prepared and executed for them according to their needs, always taking into account the social, political and cultural context in which they work; providing them with useful tools for daily performance as well as a first aid kit demanded from the beginning both by them and by the head of School Health

Proyecto de Cooperación Internacional para la Formación de Matronas y Matrones en los Campamentos de Refugiados Saharauis

Introducción: La población saharaui lleva 41 años exiliada en el desierto argelino de Tinduf. Allí, matronas/es tituladas/os y tradicionales desarrollan su trabajo en un medio hostil, con escasez de recursos materiales, formativos y sin acceso a las nuevas tecnologías. El objetivo de este artículo es mostrar las actividades formativas llevadas a cabo mediante un proyecto de cooperación de ayuda al desarrollo financiado por la Agencia Andaluza de Cooperación Internacional para el Desarrollo en los campamentos de refugiados/as saharauis en sus dos años de vida y las futuras líneas de actuación que se plantean para darle continuidad a este proyecto. Metodología: Programa formativo de 40 horas teórico-prácticas con posterior evaluación mediante un cuestionario de satisfacción. Resultados: En las dos ediciones de este proyecto se han reciclado 14 matronas/es con una valoración global calificada como “muy satisfactoria” por el 94% de los/as asistentes. Se identifican nuevas temáticas que le darán continuidad al proyecto. Conclusiones: Se han obtenido buenos resultados en la evaluación de las actividades desarrolladas hasta ahora y se trabaja en la implantación de una plataforma web para continuar el apoyo formativo y el intercambio de bibliografía.Junta de Andalucía. Agencia Andaluza de Cooperación Internacional para el Desarrollo, Proyecto 2014/DEC008