Abstract:
BACKGROUND: Despite a global consensus that nurses and midwives constitute the majority and
are a backbone of any country’s health workforce system, productive capacity of training
institutions remains low and still needs more guidance. This study aimed at developing a
middle-range model to guide efforts in nursing education improvements.
OBJECTIVE: To explore challenges facing nursing education in Malawi and to describe efforts
that are being put in place to improve nursing education and the process of development of a
model to improve nursing education in Malawi.
METHOD: The study used a qualitative descriptive design. A panel discussion with eight
nursing education and practice experts was conducted guided by core concepts derived from
an analysis of research report from a national nursing education conference. Two focus group
discussions during two quarterly review meetings engaged nurse educators, practitioners and
clinical preceptors to fill gaps from data obtained from a panel discussion. A qualitative
abductive analysis approach was used for the development of the model.
RESULTS: Transforming and scaling up of nursing education emerged as the main concept of the
model with nursing education context, academic practice partnership, regulation, competent
graduate and nursing workforce as sub concepts. Key main strategies in the model included
curriculum reforms, regulation, transformative learning, provision of infrastructure and
resources and capacity building.
CONCLUSION: The model can be used to prioritise nursing education intervention aimed at
improving quality of nursing education in Malawi and other similar settings.
