Impacts on Global Health from Nursing Research

Abstract

Infectious disease continues to adversely affect populations in low- and middle-income countries. Investments in solutions often focus on technology, yet health-care workers remain in short supply. Nurses are the largest cadre of health-care workers and are largely responsible for patient care around the world. In fact, it is estimated that nurses care for nine out of every 10 patients seen. Importantly, sound nursing science contributes to solutions that directly impact patient care, especially those that pertain to infectious disease. Here we share several examples of nursing science that are improving care delivery in three global health areas: human immunodeficiency virus testing and prevention strategies in Malawi, family planning in Kenya, and response to Ebola virus disease.

Nurses’ experiences of health concerns, teamwork, leadership and knowledge transfer during an Ebola outbreak in West Africa

“…By examining previous research on EVD, nurses and nursing between 2014–2018, it is possible to gain an overview of the main areas previously investigated. Research questions have previously addressed: How healthcare workers are prepared to care for Ebola patients in West Africa (Adongo et al, ; Andertun, Hörnsten, & Hajdarevic, ; Annan et al, ; Cranmer et al, ; Gee & Skovdal, ; Kollie, Winslow, Pothier, & Gaede, ; Von Strauss, Paillard‐Borg, Holmgren, & Saaristo, ; Turtle et al, ). The importance of nurses’ skills and competences in fighting Ebola (Baltzell, McLemore, Shattell, & Rankin, ; Sagar, ). How healthcare workers/nurses are treated on their return after an Ebola mission (Gee & Skovdal, ). How nursing students are prepared to care for Ebola patients in the Western care context (Chilton, McNeil, & Alfred, ; McNiel & Elertson, ). How well‐prepared healthcare professionals/nurses in a Western context are to care for Ebola patients (Baduage, Moss, & Morphe, ; Eckes et al, ; Rajiah et al, ; Smit et al, ). Perceptions of healthcare workers/nurses who have been infected with Ebola (Johnson, ). Nurses’ attitudes towards caring for patients with Ebola in a Western care context (Narasimhuli et al, ; Speroni, Seibert, & Mallinson, ). The public's understanding of nurses’ caring role in an Ebola outbreak (McGillis Hall & Kashin, ). …”

Although in shortage, nursing workforce is still a significant contributor to life expectancy at birth

“…This is further illustrated by the fact that no other healthcare professionals have spent as much direct contact time with pandemic patients as nurses (Anton et al., 2021; Galehdar et al., 2020). Therefore, nurses’ involvement is a powerful influence on decreasing the mortality rate of infectious diseases (Baltzell et al., 2017; Fernandez et al., 2020). Publicly this influence is recognized in measures such as Gallup Polls where nursing workforce earn a record 89% score, 4 percentage points higher than their previous high, in 2019 because they have been working on the COVID‐19 front ‐line (Oakland University, 2021).…”

Nursing and Midwifery Research Output in Africa: A Review of the Literature

“…Some of the factors reported to limit involvement of nurses in research include rigid power hierarchies among different health professional disciplines, lack of opportunities for graduate and postgraduate training, lack of mentors and resources (Edwards, Webber, Mill, Kahwa, & Roelofs, 2009). However, recent evidence suggests there are examples of the growing positive influence of nursing research and scientific application in several African countries around infectious diseases which may be used as exemplars (Baltzell, McLemore, Shattell, & Rankin, 2017).…”