Wednesday 18 June 2014
Monday 16 June 2014
Attaining Professional Excellence Through CPD (APETC)
What is Motivation?Continuing Professional Development (CPD) For Health Professionals Kasungu pilot project
Kasungu pilot project inception
resulted from findings conducted by I-Tech on Continuing Professional
Development (CPD) and nurses' attitude towards learning. The findings by I-Tech
revealed gaps in nurses' and midwives attitudes, knowledge and skills towards
CPD and to learning as health professionals.
The nurses and midwives of
Malawi, had limited understanding of the benefits of CPD, seeing this form of
learning as punishment from the Nurses and Midwives Council of Malawi (NMCM),
and as a result undertook CPD for the benefit of NMCM and not for their own
professional benefit. The other factor which hindered the progress of CPD for
the nurses and midwives of Malawi, CPD was linked to their licensure making it
mandatory to participate in CPD in order to renew their licensure. Though the
uptake of CPD is high, nurses and midwives complete their log book in order to
renew their licensure and fail to see the importance of updating their skills
and knowledge thus giving the patients a better outcome and experience. The
I-tech findings also revealed forgery among many of the health professionals
regardless of position or status in the profession.
Funding for the pilot
project has come from VSO, Partnership Support Fund (PSF), Tropical Health
Education Trust (THET), and additional support from University of North
Caroline/Melinda & Bill Gates Foundation. A very worthy collaboration and
partnership working promoting education for nurses/midwives, quality care for
care for patients in Malawi.
Following initial meeting
in Kasungu health district with members of the nurse management team. Interests
in the Kasungu pilot project was also shown from other cadres i.e.
doctors/clinicians, lab technicians, pharmacists, environmental health officers
to take part in the Kasungu project. The
project has become the focal point generating interests in the program.
The Kasungu project is a
one year CPD pilot which started in March this year. The aim of the project, to
promote CPD as learning which develops nurse/midwives to deliver best practice,
improve knowledge and skills and improve patient care in Malawi. It also aims to improve motivation and
attitude of nurses/midwives towards learning and the care given to
patients/clients in their care. Lessons learnt from the pilot will help the
roll process to other health districts.
As it stands currently,
nurses/midwives have a negative attitude towards CPD and see it as a punishment
enforced by the regulatory body the Nurses and Midwives Council of Malawi (CPD
is linked into the renewal of nurses/midwives licensure). Although, the uptake of CPD has increased the
understanding of CPD is low with many nurses/midwives having a poor perception of
both the purpose and the benefits of CPD.
Once a month I travel to
Kasungu to spend the day with the group facilitating topics picked by group
members. In May the theme was solely
dedicated to 'Motivation'. July's theme is based on 'Maternal Health', with
invited speakers with expert knowledge on maternal health. The number of participants so far is 21, with
prospective new intakes each month. The cohort group is called "Attainting
Professional Excellence Through CPD (APETC).
See photos of APETC.
Friday 13 June 2014
INVIGILATION OF COUNCIL LICENSURE EXAMS
NMCM Examination
April, a busy time with the preparation of nurses and midwives licensure exams. This is the final exams which all nurses and midwives have to take in order to be placed on the Nurses and Midwives Council Register in Malawi.
Long days, and nights putting together Council exams for over 400 nurses and midwives. Working till 10pm most evenings until was completed. Followed by 4 days of invigilating council exams.
See photos.
Next stage; marking exams which takes a further 5 days to marks all exams papers. Non essential activities stops during this process. Next week is the start of the marking of the April exams.
All qualified nurses and midwives will then be deployed to various health facilities within Malawi to work and register at NMCM as qualified nurses.
Long days, and nights putting together Council exams for over 400 nurses and midwives. Working till 10pm most evenings until was completed. Followed by 4 days of invigilating council exams.
See photos.
Next stage; marking exams which takes a further 5 days to marks all exams papers. Non essential activities stops during this process. Next week is the start of the marking of the April exams.
All qualified nurses and midwives will then be deployed to various health facilities within Malawi to work and register at NMCM as qualified nurses.
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