Activity

Findings/Outcomes

Phase 1: Desk Review

1) Strengths and weakness of existing MSc Nursing and Midwifery curricula;

a) Duration of training and core courses met minimum standards for masters of science in nursing and midwifery

b) Some content were too basic for masters level, which limited development of advanced practice skills

c) Competences for evidence based practice, critical thinking and implementation science were missing

d) Research methodology course was inadequate with regards to academic writing, literature search and reviews, qualitative methodologies and data analysis

e) Lack of standard guide for proposal and dissertation writing

f) Lack of content to foster development of personal soft survival skills including entrepreneurship, quality improvement, collaborative practice, nursing informatics and technology, self-management, team building and transformational leadership

g) Predominant use of traditional teaching methods.

h) Delayed exposure to practicum sites

2) Most regional and international masters nursing curricula are of two years duration

3) Curricula for Masters of Nursing are broadly guided by the ICN 2020 guidelines on advanced practice nursing and WHO (2005) guidelines for preparing a health care workforce for the 21st century

Phase 2: Needs Assessment

a) There was greater need for more specialized nursing and midwifery programmes to increase the number of graduates to provide advance practice care in hospitals including primary care settings

b) Fourteen masters programs were identified to be developed by the school (Oncology Nursing, Palliative care Nursing, Infectious diseases and HIV nurse practitioner, Neonatology Nursing, Critical care Nursing, Nephrology Nursing, Trauma and emergency nursing, Child and adolescent psychiatry)

c) Out of the 14, five were prioritized and recommended for immediate development (Critical Care Nursing, Emergency and Trauma Nursing, Neonatal Nursing, Oncology Nursing, and Palliative Care)

d) The assessment methods should be tailor-made to each programme to ensure the core objective of saving life & preventing permanent disabilities

e) Challenges highlighted—included inadequate specialized staff, inadequate infrastructure especially the skills laboratory, financial constraints

f) Solutions to identified challenges included establishment of fellowships to promote capacity building, signing of an MoU with the University Teaching Hospital & other hospitals so that students can begin practice early, equip the clinical skills laboratory with more equipment and simulators and , promoting online teaching

Phase:3 Stakeholder Consultation

1) Stakeholders expressed willing to support UNZA-SoN in curricula review/development and subsequent programme implementation

2) Recommended to:

a) Review and develop curricula that addresses gaps identified during the desk review and needs assessment

b) Introduce early and enhanced clinical exposure

c) Identifying clinical mentors from the practicum sites to facilitate mentorship and enhance clinical competencies of students and graduates

d) Introduce students to some high level clinical skills e.g. conducting lumbar puncture, incision & drainage, intubation in order to produce nurse and midwifery practitioners who are hands-on, more practical and service delivery oriented

Phase 4: SWOT Analysis

1) Strengths; UNZA-SoN rated as number one among universities in Zambia, has established MSc implementation systems, offers different modes of study

2) Weaknesses; limited infrastructure, intermittent internet connectivity, inadequate specialized staff

3) Opportunities; UNZA-SoN is a recognized institution globally and rated as number 1 in Zambia, strong partnerships with global and regional institutions, availability of different platforms for online teaching and good will from stakeholders

4) Threats: competition from up-coming universities

Phase 5: Curricula Review/Development

1) Four master of sciences curricula reviewed; Clinical Nursing, Midwifery and Women’s Health, Public Health Nursing and Mental Health Nursing

2) Five masters of science curricula developed; Critical Care Nursing, Emergency and Trauma Nursing, Neonatal Nursing, Oncology Nursing, and Palliative Care

Phase 6: School Board Approval and University Senate Approval

1) Four reviewed curricula approved as academic masters programmes

2) Four New curricula approved as academic Masters

3) One (Critical Care Nursing) approved as Professional Masters Programme

Phase 7: Curricula submission to the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Zambia (NMCZ)

The four reviewed and five developed Master of Science in Nursing and Midwifery curricula registered by the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Zambia

Phase 8: High Education Authority (HEA) Approval and Accreditation

The four reviewed and five developed Master of Science in Nursing and Midwifery curricula accredited by Higher Education Authority