Exploring the reasons for novice nurse educators' transition from practice to academia in Ghana.

Journal: PloS one

Volume: 16

Issue: 10

Year of Publication: 2021

Affiliated Institutions:  Presbyterian Primary Health Care (PPHC), Bolgatanga, Ghana. Department of Nursing, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, College of Health Sciences, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana. Department of Mental Health Nursing, University for Development Studies, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Tamale, Ghana. Midwifery Training College, Tumu, Ghana. Tamale Regional/Central Hospital, Tamale, Ghana. Nursing Training College, Damongo, Ghana.

Abstract summary 

There is an increasing transition rate of experienced clinical nurses from practice to academia. When nurses transition from practice to academia for the right reasons, it culminates in job satisfaction and retention. Thus, understanding what attracts clinical nurses to academia is an important consideration for employing and retaining competent nurse educators. Yet, there are gaps in research about what motivates nurses to transition from practice to academia within the Ghanaian context. This study aimed to explore the reasons for novice nurse educators' transition from practice to academia in three Health Training Institutions in the Upper East Region of Ghana.This qualitative descriptive phenomenology study used a purposive sampling method to select 12 novice nurse educators. Data were collected using a semi-structured interview guide through individual face-to-face in-depth interviews. Written informed consent was obtained and interviews were audio-taped and transcribed verbatim. Data analysis was done manually guided by Colaizzi's method of data analysis.Novice nurse educators transitioned from practice to academia because they were dissatisfied with their clinical nursing practice, they wanted more flexible work, they wanted to work autonomously, and they previously taught their clients in the clinical setting. Four themes emerged namely: (1) dissatisfied with clinical nursing, (2) quest for flexible work role, (3) quest for work autonomy, and (4) previous clinical teaching.The reasons for transitioning from practice to academia were mostly born out of novice nurse educators' previous negative experiences in the clinical setting which ought to be considered in the recruitment and retention of teaching staff to train the future nurses. There is the need to revise and implement a tutor recruitment policy that takes into account, what attracts clinical nurses to the academic setting.

Authors & Co-authors:  Laari Timothy Tienbia TT Apiribu Felix F Amooba Philemon Adoliwine PA Mensah Adwoa Bemah Boamah ABB Gazari Timothy T Kuunibe Joseph Kuufaakang JK Atanuriba Gideon Awenabisa GA Akor Moses Haruna MH

Study Outcome 

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Statistics
Citations :  World Health Organization. WHO consultation on the transformative scale-up of medical, nursing and midwifery education: Second technical reference group meeting: nursing and midwifery education experts. Geneva: World Health Organisation; 2010.
Authors :  8
Identifiers
Doi : e0258695
SSN : 1932-6203
Study Population
Male,Female
Mesh Terms
Adult
Other Terms
Study Design
Descriptive Study,Cross Sectional Study
Study Approach
Qualitative
Country of Study
Ghana
Publication Country
United States