Graduate Nurse Education in Haiti

Abstract

The plight of the people of Haiti that came to the world's attention following the devastating earthquake there in 2010 has for the most part receded into the background amid other issues despite their continuing economic and health problems. The purpose of this article is to explore the experiences of the first graduate nurse students in Haiti. The program is funded and operated by a nonprofit, nongovernment nursing organization, Promoting Health in Haiti, based in New York City. A narrative was generated by doing focus groups and interviews with 10 of the students in the program. Three themes found in the narrative are pressing on amid uncertainty and unanswered questions, living and learning amid competing responsibilities, and enjoying support while learning new skills that can make a difference. The implications for graduate nurse education in low-resource countries are discussed.

Supporting a Nursing Program in a Low-Income Country: A Collaborative Project

“…Facilitating a culturally congruent nursing education program is paramount. Cultural competence has been cited as a significant contributor to balancing the gap in global health equity 3 . While many of our goals for the program were accomplished there is still more work to be done in providing support for the students, faculty and healthcare system in Haiti.…”

“…Furthermore, the number of healthcare professionals in Haiti is limited to a total of 5,400: 2.8 per 1000, or 1.8 nurses and one physician per 10,000 people 2 . This number is alarming as nurses have been reported to play an important role in improving health around the globe 3,4 and in Haiti the healthcare system depends heavily on nurses 5 There is a need for well-trained professional nurses to care for the population and educate incoming nursing professionals. Haiti additionally needs well-trained, auxiliary health or community health care workers to provide primary care and health education.…”