Abstract: Duke University School of Nursing’s Impact on Nursing and Midwifery Education in Rwanda

Abstract

BackgroundIn August, 2012, Duke University School of Nursing partnered with Rwanda’s Ministry of Health to join the Rwanda Human Resources for Health Program, a seven-year initiative to increase the quantity and quality of Rwanda’s health professional workforce. The purpose of this paper is to: (1) describe an educational project to promote evidence-based practice in the clinical and didactic settings; (2) to evaluate barriers to integration of best practices in the clinical setting.DescriptionEvidence-based practice and the integration of research into the clinical setting were identified as priority areas in nursing education. Common causes of preventable morbidity and mortality were identified in neonatology, midwifery, pediatrics and medical-surgical areas. Current practice guidelines were evaluated and critiqued. Evidence-practice guidelines were integrated into didactic teaching emphasizing the role of the nurse in implementation of best practices. Perceived barriers to implementation of guidelines were discussed.Lessons learnedLack of knowledge and access to current clinical practice guidelines were identified as barriers to integration of evidence-based practice into clinical and didactic teaching. Perceived barriers in the clinical setting included perspectives of clinicians and lack of interprofessional and organizational collaboration.ConclusionsCurriculum revision is needed to integrate evidence-based practice guidelines. Faculty support to develop innovative strategies to teach best practices in the clinical and didactic setting are suggested.Key words: evidence-based practice, research, translation to clinical practice, Rwanda, burden of disease