Facilitators and barriers to nurses’ compliance with continuous professional development requirements at a referral hospital in Oshana Region, Namibia

Abstract

Background: Health professionals must keep their knowledge, skills and ethics up to date to ensure competency and promote the public interest, safety and health of all Namibians. In Namibia, little research exists on the facilitators of, and barriers to, nurses’ compliance with continuous professional development (CPD) requirements.

Objectives: The objective of this study was to explore and describe the facilitators of, and barriers to, nurses’ compliance with CPD requirements at Intermediate Hospital Oshakati (IHO) in the Oshana region of Namibia.

Method: Purposive sampling was used in this qualitative, explorative, descriptive and contextual research study to select participants who met the inclusion criteria. Data were collected via individual semi-structured interviews with 15 of the 550 nurses employed at the hospital, at which point data saturation was reached. The transcribed data were then analysed using thematic analysis. The collected data were analysed thematically using an inductive approach.

Results: The findings were synthesised under three themes: facilitators of nurses’ participation in CPD, barriers to nurses’ participation in CPD and recommendations for improvements.

Conclusion: Time constraints, a shortage of nurses, limited access to digital technologies, a lack of funding for CPD training and a lack of accredited CPD service providers are major barriers to participation in CPD training. Strengthening communication and collaboration between health workers, CPD providers and management are specifically organisational factors seen as crucial to successful staff development.

Contribution: The findings from this study can be used to create some targeted interventions and ongoing strategies to enhance nurses’ compliance with CPD requirements.