INTRODUCTION

Background of the Study

Health reform demands a system that is evidence based cost effective and

offers that highest quality of care New Model of care delivery must be

innovative in order to attain these goals. Team of health professionals

providing health care must be highly educated and possess advanced skills

this new paradigm will presents as unique opportunity for the nursing

profession to full new leadership position and leverage it” strength in team

based roles (Institute of Medicine 2008).

For the past decade nursing research has provided the evidence that

higher education will make a difference in clinical practice. These studies

demonstrate that nurses who hold a bachelor degree have better patient

outcomes such as lower mortality and failure to rescue rates. Additionally

research has indicated that nurses with a Bachelor of Science in Nigeria

(BSN) are more proficient in their ability to make nursing diagnosis and

evaluation nursing interventions as well as demonstrate improved

professional integration and research evaluation (Institute of Medicine

2008).

The mandatory continuing professional development programme nurses

and midwives in Nigeria is the brain child of the Nursing and Midwifery

Council of Nigeria and it was introduced because the council is concerned

with improving the quality of nursing care in Nigeria the purpose is to

update the knowledge of nurses in order to assist and appreciate

advancement in nursing practice with the dynamics of changes in the

profession. As a result of these development the nursing council

established a central committee to design and develop the medical surgical

nursing modules in February 2008.

All nurses in government and private services including the retired; who

want to renew their licence and engage in other nursing activities are

expected to participate. It is compulsory for all nurses and midwives to

participate in the two volumes within three years before licenses are

renewed (NANNM 2011).

As our health care system changes there is need for more nurses with

bachelors degree or higher degrees. The patient population is aging and

more patient are presenting with more and more complicated condition.

Health care is relying ever more heavily on information technology more

people are able to access care not only do we need more BSN prepared

nurses to provide care in this increasingly complex system we also need

more nursing facility at our institution of higher education to educate the

next generation of nurses knowing what motivate nurses to seek BSN and

higher degree is crucial.

World Health Organization (WHO) related that human genetic encourages

health professional growth according to them they are ready to support an

educated and informed health work force to provide the best health service

to population and to achieve the best possible health for all. The key role

of advance educational needs of nurses with advanced knowledge health

care service worldwide (WHO 2011).

Motivators as a result of higher education include as interest in career and

professional advancement gaining new knowledge improving social

welfare skills and being a positive model for one’s children. Registered

nurses have a desire to achieve personal and job satisfaction and

professional achievement nurses with Bachelor degrees are more likely to

being extremely satisfied with their jobs compares with nurses who hold

associates degrees (Christine 2012).

According to the 2008 National Sample Survey of Registered Nurses; while

the number of diploma graduates has decreased the number of associate

degree graduates is on the rise. A key recommendation of the Institute of

Medicine Landmark Report that the future of nursing leading change

advancing health is to have nurses achieve higher level of education with a

goal of 80 percent of nurse holding a bachelors degree or higher by 2020.

Studies has identifies the factors that best predict whether nurses will

return to school to ear higher degree (WHO 2011).

Continuing education is most commonly used to describe planned

educational offerings aimed at improving the knowledge skill or attitudes

of practitioners. Nurses often participate in continuing education activities

in a mandatory selected manner with little structure or defined

expectations for resultant change in clinical practices (Forsetlund 2009).

Continuing education is one component of continuing professional

development which is a broader concept involving set directed life long

learning. The American Nurses Association stated that nurses have a

responsibility for attaining the knowledge and competencies that reflect

current practice. The underlying philosophy of our cardiovascular

education curriculum is that participation in structure continuing education

will engage participants to embrace lifelong learning (American Nurses

Association 2004).

Advanced nursing education is better for patient care. Among the key

messages of the Institute of Medicine is that nurses should achieve higher

level of education system that promote seamless academic progress related

to recommending set goal to increase proportion of nurses with bachelor’s

degree from 50% to 80% and double the number of nurses with doctorate

by 2020. In the previous year American Initiative related to nursing

education include effort to either create a new nursing education program

or to improve on the existing once. They also advocate for the promotion

of legislature and educational activities in nursing e.g. (Florence

Nightingale 1860) said “we must be learning all our life”

Statement of the Problem

Nurses and midwives in Usman Danfodio University Teaching Hospital

Sokoto are still practicing with their first register nurse certificate or at

most an additional post certificate in nursing. They are not making effort

to obtain a higher education in nursing which have led to repetition of old

ways of practices. It is difficult for the nursing staff to meet up with

modern standard of practice which is “evidence based practice”.

Inadequate educational preparation and experience have not allowed such

staff to put in their best in the practice area. These have led to low

performance and poor moral at the work places leading to disadvantages in

their career progression. Failure to meet total need of their patients this

have led to their major consequences of not advancing in knowledge is

that nurses resource will not be able to face the increasing complexity in

health care and other noted changes in practice.

Theoretical formulation scientific discovering technological innovation and

development of new treatment are not utilized adequately. As a result of

the above the researcher will like to appraise the mandatory continuing

professional development programme among nurses in Usman Danfodio

University Teaching Hospital Sokoto.

Objective of the Study

The study will be guided by the following objectives:

1. To determine the factors preventing nurses from furthering their

education.

2. To determine the level of implementation of mandatory continuing

professional development programme by the nurses in Usman

Danfodio Teaching Hospital Sokoto.

3. To determine the challenges faced by nurses on continuing

education.

4. To suggest means of enhancing continuing education for nurses.

Significance of the Study

The study provide general overview for the practices nurses and their level

of academic qualification in Usman Danfodio University Teaching Hospital

Sokoto. It is also identify and suggest solution to some of the barriers that

are currently impending on nurses ability to meet with the growing demand

for a better nursing education and practices.

This research study will enable challenges that nurses are currently facing

due to lack of continuous education. All stakeholders in Usman Danfodio

University Teaching Hospital (UDUTH) Sokoto would understand that there

is need to make provision for nurses to advance in their education so as to

meet up with the current standard and challenges in the health care

system.

Research Questions

1. What are the factors preventing nurses from furthering their

education?

2. What are the level of implementations of mandatory continuing

professional development programme?

3. What are the challenges faced by nurses on continuing education?

4. What are the ways to enhancing continuing education for nurses?

Scope of the Study

The study is designed to appraise the mandatory continuing professional

development programme among nurses in Usman Danfodio University

Teaching Hospital (UDUTH) Sokoto.

This study areas was selected because of higher number of nurses

personnel working in the institution also most of the nurses staff in Usman

Danfodio University Teaching Hospital (UDUTH) Sokoto have been exposed

to mandatory continuing professional development programme since 2011

to date.

Operational Definition of Terms

Appraisal - A judgment or assessment of value of MCPDP

MCPDP - Mandatory continuing professional development

programme.

Education - A process of teaching training and learning especially

in school or colleges to improve knowledge and develop

skills.

Professional - A person who does a job that needs special training

and a high level of education.

Development - The process of gradual growth directed change so that

it becomes more advanced stronger etc.

Midwife - A person who having been regularly admitted to a

midwifery education programme duly recognized in the

country in which it is located have successfully

completed the prescribed course of studies and has

acquired the requisite qualification to be registered and

licensed to practice midwifery.

Nurse - A person who is qualified in the art and science of

nursing and meet certain prescribed standard of

education and clinical competence to provide service

that are essential in the promotion maintenance or

restoration of health and well being.