Nursing Education in the Gambia: Milestones and Challenges towards Reform
Abstract
Jainaba Sey-Sawo, Haddy Tunkara-Bah and Alasana Kanteh
Nursing education is the formally recognized program of study providing a broad and sound foundation in the behavioral, life nursing sciences for the general practice of nursing resulting in leadership role and preparation post basic education in specialty or advanced nursing practice. This paper provides a descriptive account of nursing education in the Gambia, share its milestones and challenges based on a review of the literature. Nursing education is offered on a full time basis and free of charge for Gambian students attending public nursing institutions at the certificate level. These training institutions are under college and universities. In the Gambia, nursing education though slowly progressing, tremendous achievements have been made. Milestones registered are the development of an advanced diploma, graduate and post graduate nursing programs (MSc.) at the University of the Gambia, revised and updated curricula to meet the health care demands of the populace, attainment of post graduate degrees by most nursing faculty members and an increasing number of qualified student applicants wishing to take nursing as their professional career. Challenges are limited specialization areas, old text books and journals, shortage of faculty, poor e- learning facilities, lack of clinical tutors, in- country nursing journal, infrastructure such as limited classrooms space, non-functional skill laboratories and residential hall/campus. In order to enhance effective teaching- learning environment, these constraints need to be addressed so as to produce highly qualified, competent and educated nursing workforce capable to deliver quality nursing care and hence improve patient outcomes.