Understanding the Lived Experiece of Nursing Practice in Haiti

With 80% of its population living below the poverty line, Haiti remains one of the lowest resource countries in the Western hemisphere. Compounding the high morbidly and mortality rates is the shortage of all levels of healthcare personnel including nurses. Most of the health care in Haiti is delivered by Registered Nurses (RN), the overwhelming majority of whom are diploma educated. Research shows that better nursing consistently leads to better outcomes for patients. Increasing the number of nurses with the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree is central to reducing morbidity and mortality rates.  The World Health organization (WHO) and the International Council on Nursing (ICN) recommend global strengthening of nursing services by improving the educational level of nurses.  Effective January 2014, the entry level for nursing in Haiti has been upgraded to a baccalaureate level. There is a need for pathway programs that will facilitate the transition of the current diploma graduate nurses to BSN status.This researcher is partnering with the Ministry of Haiti, and the University of Haiti to provide a program of nursing education that will allow RNs educated at the diploma level to obtain a BSN. This program would address the need for high quality nursing care in Haiti and provide a smooth transition from RN to BSN. There needs to be buy-in by the nurses currently in practice in Haiti. The research questions are: what are the perceptions of diploma prepared nurses of their nursing education and how do nurses perceive the mandate to make the BSN the minumum level for entry into practice in Haiti. This research project explores the views of nurses in practice in Haiti who are currently enrolled in the RN to BSN program in Haiti