Benchmarking Nursing Education in Indonesia for Social Development and Global Competitiveness

Abstract

Background: - This paper describes how nursing education in Indonesia benchmarking nursing education in the Philippines for social development and global competitiveness. Kolaka Nursing Academy in Kolaka City, Southeast Sulawesi Province and Tri Mandiri Sakti Institute of Health Sciences in Bengkulu City were two pilot nursing schools in Indonesia for benchmarking, while Western Mindanao State University, Zamboanga City and the Philippine Women's University, Manila, and were two schools in the Philippines as benchmarks. In general, the study sought to explain the nursing education status in Indonesia and to what extent has nursing education in Indonesia contributed to social development and social welfare. Methods: - Qualitative research design was used in assessing, comparing and analyzing the nursing education program of two selected nursing schools of Indonesia that established Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with nursing schools in the Philippines, and the two nursing schools in the Philippines. The four nursing schools were chosen based on convenience and purposive sampling. In this study the researcher applied qualitative research design using documentary review and analyses for the purpose of comparing nursing education program and determining the best practices, strengths and weaknesses in program implementation between nursing school in the Philippines and Indonesia. It described the syntheses of data gathered using secondary documents, interview and observation. Results: - The bio-medical model of nursing education in Indonesia focusing on pathology and etiology of disease processes and medical treatment which is basically disease-oriented impressed upon the graduates that nurses are under the domain of the medical profession. Indonesian nursing curriculum needs improvement in terms of developing analytical and critical thinking skills, leadership and managerial capabilities among the students and impress upon them that nurses are independent professionals who collaborate with physician or doctor and other members of the health team in patient care regimen. Indonesian nursing curriculum provides minimal contact hours and opportunities for students to develop their clinical skills and competencies expected of professional nurses. Research limitations: - The limitation of the study was the unable of the researcher to conduct English proficiency test to compare the English proficiency between the students, the graduates and the faculty members of the pilot nursing schools in Indonesia with those nursing schools in the Philippines.