EXPECTED ROLES OF NURSES AND MIDWIVES IN BOTSWANA

AimThe roles and tasks of nurses and midwives have developed significantly over the years, calling for adjustment to the current local consumer needs and expectations. This qualitative study was conducted to explore the perceived tasks and roles of nurses and midwives.Significance of the studyThe results of this study will provide guidance for development of a culturally relevant Sub Saharan nursing and midwifery practice model, and curriculum development.MethodsThe larger descriptive cross sectional qualitative regional study involved 9 Sub-Saharan African countries. We present the Botswana component of this study. Respondents were patients, community leaders, and nurse-leaders, selected through purposive sampling from different settings. The University Of Botswana Office Of Research and Development, and the Ministry of Health Research and Development Committee gave permission for the study. Participants gave written informed consent, completed a 16-item demographic questionnaire, and engaged in focus group discussions about the perceived tasks and roles of nurses and midwives. Qualitative data were textually analysed to generate themes and subthemes, supported by verbatim excerpts.ResultsRespondents stated that nurses and midwives in Botswana operate at different levels of the health care system, with dependent, interdependent and independent roles. Nurses and midwives were expected to be receptive, patient, respectful, compassionate, and knowledgeable about their work. The perceived roles included caring, collaboration, advocacy, leadership, supervision, mentoring, management and other expanded roles.Discussion/Conclusion/recommendationsParticipants highlighted the expanded roles that nurses and midwives performed beyond their scopes of practice and education, hence the need for regulation, training and incentives. Â

Shaping the Role of sub-Saharan African Nurses and Midwives: Stakeholder’s perceptions of the Nurses’ and Midwives’ tasks and roles

To explore the role expectations of different stakeholders in the health care system on the roles and tasks that nurses and midwives perform, in order to clarify and strengthen these roles and shape the future of nursing education and practice in sub-Saharan Africa. Qualitative focus group discussions were held with different stakeholders (nurses, health service managers, patients and their caregivers, community members and leaders and other health professionals) in eight African countries in order to establish their role expectations of nurses and midwives. Three questions about their role expectations and the interviews were taped, transcribed, and translated into English and analysed. There was consensus amongst the stakeholders regarding eight role functions: taking care of patients; giving health information; managing the care environment; advocating for patients; services and policies; providing emergency care; collaborating with other stakeholders; and providing midwifery care to women, infants and their families. There was disagreement amongst the stakeholders about the role of diagnosis and prescribing treatment. Nursing derives its mandate from communities it serves, and the roles expected must therefore form part of nursing regulation, education and practice standards. Health planners must use these as a basis for job descriptions and rewards. Once these are accepted in the training and regulation of nursing, they must be marketed so that recipients are aware thereof. Om die rol verwagtings van verskillende rolspelers in die gesondheidsisteem aangaande die rolle en take van die verpleegkundiges en vroedvroue te ondersoek, om daardeur uitklaring en helderheid en bekragtiging van hierdie rolle te verkry, waardeur die toekoms van verpleeg-onderwys en praktyk in sub-Sahara Afrika gevorm kan word. Kwalitatiewe fokus groepe is met verskillende rolspelers (verpleegkundiges, gesondheidsdiens bestuurders, pasiënte en hulle versorgers, lede van die gemeenskap, leiers en lede van andere gesondheidsprofessies) in agt Afrika lande gehou om hul rolverwagtings van verpleegkundiges en vroedvroue te bepaal. Drie vrae is oor die rolverwagtings gevra. Die onderhoude is opgeneem, getranskribeer, in Engels vertaal, en geanaliseer. Daar was konsensus tussen rolspelers oor agt rol funksies: versorging van pasiënte; die gee van gesondheidsinligting; bestuur van die sorgomgewing; voorspraak vir pasiënte; dienste en beleid; voorsiening van nooddienste; samewerking met ander rolspelers; en voorsiening aan moeder en kindersorg vir vroue en hul gesinne. Ooreenstemming is nie bereik aangaande die rol van diagnose en voorskryf van behandeling nie. Verpleging kry sy mandaat van die gemeenskappe wat gedien word en daarom behoort die rolverwagtings deel te vorm van verpleeg-regulasie, onderwys en praktyk- standaarde. Gesondheidsdiensbeplanners behoort hierdie verwagtings as basis te gebruik vir werksbeskrywings en erkenning. Na die aanvaarding van hierdie verwagtings in verpleegopleiding en regulering, moet dit bekend gemaak word sodat die gemeenskap daarvan bewus is