Perceptions of registered nurses at Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital towards the baccalaureate program at Kamuzu College of Nursing.
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Date
2000-04-10
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Kamuzu University of Health Sciences
Abstract
This qualitative study is aimed at describing the perception of the registered nurses at Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital towards the Baccalaureate Program at Kamuzu College of nursing a constituent college of the University of Malawi. The Baccalaureate program has been in operation since 1995. Lewin's force-field model (1951) has been used to guide this study. This model specifically explains the change process where there are usually opposing driving and restraining forces when change is to occur. The model further explains the need for these
opposing forces to form a new equilibrium for the change to become feasible. A sample of five female registered nurses is used in this study Data collection was done using question guide during interviews with the selected participants. Audiotapes and field
notes were also used during the data collection to make sure that participants' exact explanations of the phenomena were grasped well. Content analysis described by Streubert (1991) was used to analyse the data collected by the researcher. Common perceptions of the participants were noted from the collected data and themes were derived from these perceptions. The themes which emerged included, good development, welcome change. improved quality of care, well polished
program, paper nurse program, professional improvement and need for continuation. The results of the study perceive the baccalaureate degree program mainly as strength that will lead to nursing profession improvement.