The situation of nursing education in Latin America and the Caribbean towards universal health.

Silvia Helena De Bortoli Cassiani,Laura Morán Peña,Jacqueline Molina De Uriza,Sabrina De Souza Elias Mikael,Lisa Theus,Lynda Law Wilson,Rosa Amarilis Zarate Grajales,Nathaly Rozo Gutierrez,Adriana Da Silva Felix,Maria Del Carmen Gutierrez Agudelo,Linda L Mccreary

doi:10.1590/1518-8345.2232.2913

Abstract

Objective:to assess the situation of nursing education and to analyze the extent to which baccalaureate level nursing education programs in Latin America and the Caribbean are preparing graduates to contribute to the achievement of Universal Health.Method:quantitative, descriptive/exploratory, cross-sectional study carried out in 25 countries. Results:a total of 246 nursing schools participated in the study. Faculty with doctoral level degrees totaled 31.3%, without Brazil this is reduced to 8.3%. The ratio of clinical experiences in primary health care services to hospital-based services was 0.63, indicating that students receive more clinical experiences in hospital settings. The results suggested a need for improvement in internet access; information technology; accessibility for the disabled; program, faculty and student evaluation; and teaching/learning methods. Conclusion:there is heterogeneity in nursing education in Latin America and the Caribbean. The nursing curricula generally includes the principles and values of Universal Health and primary health care, as well as those principles underpinning transformative education modalities such as critical and complex thinking development, problem-solving, evidence-based clinical decision-making, and lifelong learning. However, there is a need to promote a paradigm shift in nursing education to include more training in primary health care.

Highlights

In the Region of the Americas, many people are unable to access comprehensive health services to achieve a healthy life, prevent disease, and receive primary health care (PHC) in a timely manner
The Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO) proposes the Strategy for Universal Access to Health and Universal Health Coverage to improve health outcomes and other basic objectives of health systems based on the right of each person to receive the best standard of health, without exposing people to financial difficulties(1)
Universal Access to Health is defined as the absence of geographical, economic, socio-cultural, organizational, or gender barriers and is achieved through the progressive elimination of barriers that prevent all people from using comprehensive health services, determined at the national level, and in an equitable manner

Summary

Introduction

In the Region of the Americas, many people are unable to access comprehensive health services to achieve a healthy life, prevent disease, and receive primary health care (PHC) in a timely manner. Universal Access to Health is defined as the absence of geographical, economic, socio-cultural, organizational, or gender barriers and is achieved through the progressive elimination of barriers that prevent all people from using comprehensive health services, determined at the national level, and in an equitable manner. Universal Health Coverage is defined as the capacity of the health system to respond to the needs of the population, which includes the availability of infrastructure, human resources, health technologies (including medicines), and financing. There is great variation in the levels of initial education for nursing between countries of the Region of the Americas, as well as worldwide(2)

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