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Learning Objective #1: discuss and trace the development of the regulation of nursing in Botswana how it has contributed to the quality of nursing education and practice.

Learning Objective #2: identify the inportance and good leadership in the regulation of nursing in Botswana

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The purpose of this paper is to examine how nursing education and practice are regulated in Botswana as a way to ensure quality. The paper draws heavily from experience gathered during service in the Nursing and Midwifery Council; a regulatory body in Botswana. The evolution of such a quality measure from the pre independence era to date is traced to identify the various mechanisms that have been utilized and the leadership that was provided in developing and instituting such measures. The paper further discusses the antecedent factors to the regulation of nursing education and practice, historical development of regulation as a quality assurance measure and outlines the partnership roles of the regulatory agencies such as the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Botswana, the University of Botswana and the Tertiary Education Council. The major mechanisms of regulation in enhancing quality assurance in nursing are also discussed. The paper concludes by making some reflections into how nursing was regulated, what the current practices were, what challenges and issues were encountered, what leadership guidance was provided to overcome some of these challenges and what recommendations can be made to improve on these practices to ensure good quality nursing in Botswana.