Exploration of priority actions for strengthening the role of nurses in achieving universal health coverage.

Rowaida Al Maaitah,Raeda Fawzi Abualrub

doi:10.1590/1518-8345.1696.2819

Abstract

ABSTRACTObjective:to explore priority actions for strengthening the role of Advanced Practice Nurses (APNs) towards the achievement of Universal Health Converge (UHC) as perceived by health key informants in Jordan. Methods:an exploratory qualitative design, using a semi-structured survey, was utilized. A purposive sample of seventeen key informants from various nursing and health care sectors was recruited for the purpose of the study. Content analysis utilizing the five-stage framework approach was used for data analysis. Results:the findings revealed that policy and regulation, nursing education, research, and workforce were identified as the main elements that influence the role of APNs in contributing to the achievement of UHC. Priority actions were identified by the participants for the main four elements. Conclusion:study findings confirm the need to strengthen the role of APNs to achieve UHC through a major transformation in nursing education, practice, research, leadership, and regulatory system. Nurses should unite to come up with solid nursing competencies related to APNs, PHC, UHC, leadership and policy making to strengthen their position as main actors in influencing the health care system and evidence creation.

Highlights

The dynamic nature of the health care sector, coupled with complex challenges and continuous health care reforms, have typically imposed changes in the nature and scope of health care professionals’ roles, especially nurses
Five issues were emphasized by key informants pertaining to priority actions for the theme of policy and regulation: expansion of the role of Advanced Practice Nurses (APNs) and scope of practice; development of standards and competencies for nursing education, practice, leadership and APNs; establishment of residency and national board exam; involvement of nurses in the policy and decision-making process and capacity building of nurses and nurse leaders indifferent sectors and levels
The results of this study showed congruency among key informants on most of the issues that were raised to strengthen the role of APNs towards achievement of Universal Health Coverage (UHC)

Summary

Introduction

The dynamic nature of the health care sector, coupled with complex challenges and continuous health care reforms, have typically imposed changes in the nature and scope of health care professionals’ roles, especially nurses. Evidence suggests investments in health systems are key components to improved health outcomes[2,3]. UHC does remove the accessibility and quality barriers to health care, but the financial barriers as well to everyone including the poor. Evidence suggests that effective provision of affordable, acceptable, high- quality health care services leads to the improvement of a population’s health, especially for vulnerable individuals and communities[4]. The causal analyses from 153 nations revealed that broader health coverage provided better access to necessary health care services and improved the health of the population, with considerable gains to the impoverished[5]

Objectives

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion