Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Thesis Format

Integrated Article

Degree

Master of Science

Program

Nursing

Supervisor

Babenko-Mould, Yolanda

Abstract

Excellence in pediatric nursing education and practice can significantly impact child health globally. Educated pediatric nurses form a strong foundation for healthcare systems globally. In 2016, a Pediatric Nursing Continuing Professional Development (PNCPD) program was created and implemented in Kigali, Rwanda, through the Training, Support, and Access Model (TSAM) for Maternal, Newborn, and Child Health (MNCH) project. This partnership project between Canada and Rwanda provided pediatric nursing education to forty-one Rwandan nurses and nurse educators in 2018 and 2019. An interpretive descriptive study was conducted to explore the experiences of fourteen nurses and nurse educators applying pediatric knowledge and skills to academic and clinical settings after participating in the six-month PNCPD program. Five themes emerged from inductive content analysis: Transformations in Pediatric Nursing Practice, Knowledge Sharing, Relationship-Based Nursing, Barriers and Facilitators to Knowledge Implementation, and Scaling-up PNCPD within the Health System. The findings from this study can serve to inform pediatric nursing and education in Rwanda.

Summary for Lay Audience

Pediatric nurses play a vital role in child health. In 2016, a Pediatric Nursing Continuing Professional Development (PNCPD) program was created for nurses and nurse educators working in child health in Rwanda. This research study sought to explore these nurses’ and nurse educators’ experiences of applying the knowledge and skills gained in the PNCPD program to their nursing practice. Fourteen nurses and nurse educators who completed the PNCPD program were interviewed in Rwanda. Five themes emerged from the analysis of these interviews: Transformations in Pediatric Nursing Practice, Knowledge Sharing, Relationship-Based Nursing, Barriers and Facilitators to Knowledge Implementation, and Scaling-up PNCPD within the Health System. The results indicate that nurses and nurse educators experienced a positive transformation in pediatric nursing practice. They also experienced knowledge sharing with other nurses and health care professionals, and a relationship-based approach to their nursing practice. They shared facilitators and barriers and provided recommendations for scaling-up the PNCPD program within Rwanda. The findings from this study can inform nursing education in Rwanda.

Download

Share

COinS