Shin, H., Jeon, H., Rim, D., Muratbekova, M., Zhamankulova, M., Kim, J., & Chun, H. (2022, July 21-25). Needs assessment for nursing professional development in Kyrgyz Republic: A global collaborative work [Oral presentation]. Sigma Theta Tau International 33th International Nursing Research, Edinburgh, Scotland.

Purpose:

In a recent decade, the government of Kyrgyz Republic proposed strengthening the competencies and professionalism of health care providers as a strategy to establish a national health system to improve the health indicators of the population. Nurses act as role in the health care system, and the recent COVID-19 pandemic situation has further emphasized the importance of nurses and the need to strengthen their capabilities. However, nurses still play only an assistant without responsibilities of independent decision-making or intervention in practice and the level of social recognition is low. Also, nursing education still maintains policies based on the Soviet system, limiting the training of competent nurses. This study aims to investigate the current status and recognition of nursing practice and education and identify the actual need for improvement in the Kyrgyz Republic.

Methods:

An explorative sequential mixed methods study design was used. We conducted four meetings with 14 stakeholders, seven focus group interviews with 10 nurses, nine nurse managers, 11 faculties of nursing school, and two officials in charge of nursing policy. And then, through online survey, 215 participants including nurses, nurse managers, and faculties of nursing school evaluated their job satisfaction, and clinical nursing competence, and responded to a questionnaire developed to identify the need for improvement in nursing and nursing education based on a literature review and qualitative data. Qualitative and quantitative data were compared, analyzed, and integrated through narratives. A Kyrgyz-Korean research team has performed this global collaborative study since May 2021, and the need assessment was carried out from July 2021 to November 2021.

Results:

Participants recognized that professional development of nursing in the Kyrgyz Republic has resulted from the problems of both society and nursing groups in the domains of ‘Policy and system, ‘Competencies’, ‘Recognition/Advocacy’, and ‘Work environment’. Indeed, nurses reported significantly lower satisfaction in the extrinsic factors than intrinsic and general satisfaction, especially security, company policy, human relationship with supervisors, and responsibility(autonomy) area with their job. Also, the self-scored caring competence of nurses was lowest compared with their communication, management, professional self-growth competence. As a solution to the presented problem, the need for policy improvement of the period, curriculum, and degree system in nursing education, and registration and accreditation for competence assurance of nurses were identified.Participants showed a willingness to utilize the professional development opportunities if provided.

Conclusion:

The results of this study suggest specific strategies to enhance professional development in nursing based on the needs assessment. These would be effective measures for quality-improvement of healthcare providers and the level of national health status that the government of the Kyrgyz republic has pursued.