Feasibility of Implementing Continuing Professional Education for Nurses in Middle Income Countries, the case of South Africa

Introduction:

Continuing professional development (CPD) for healthcare professionals is an important strategic instrument for improving health and assuring quality in health systems. Under South African Nursing Act of 2005, the South African Nursing Council has the responsibility of implementing a CPD system for nurses and midwives, This feasibility study was undertaken to determine how best to implement the system and what barriers would need to be overcome.

Methods:

In November and December of 2013, open-ended interviews were administered to 107 nurses across 9 provinces in South Africa.  Respondents included urban and rural practicing nurses, key informant nurse managers, and nurse trainers.

Results:

The CPD feasibility study showed that the mandate of developing a CPD system for nurses in South would be well accepted by most nurses if implemented thoughtfully.  Nurses had an overall positive attitude about CPD and believed that it was important both for their own professional development and to maintain health system quality.  Most nurses were concerned about SANC capacity to implement, about accessibility and availability of CPD offerings, and about employer support and assistance in meeting CPD requirements.

Conclusion:

In middle income countries like South Africa, CPD is generally well accepted by nurses and seen uniformly as a benefit for them individually and the health care system.  More developing countries should consider scaling up the CPD activities available to their health professionals and implementing a formal CPD requirement to assure quality in the health care system.