In Nicaragua, doctors outnumber nurses with an approximate 2-to-1 ratio (MINSA, 2010). Nurses provide fundamental services to hospital patients and form an integral part of the medical staff. Fundación Uno started the “Strengthening Nursing in Nicaragua” program now known as “Enfermería de Hoy!” in order to improve the services provided in hospitals and care given to the sick and to dignify the nursing career. This program has five fundamental undertakings:
- Strengthening Basic Nursing Skills
- Providing equipment for simulation labs
- Standardizing evaluation methods
- Providing continuous evaluations
- Dignifying the image of nursing as health professionals
In 2012, the component of the Basic Nursing Skills (BNS) was improved through the inclusion of more intensive learning methodologies in the nursing laboratories with the use of standardized checklists for each of the skills. These changes allowed the program to complete formative and final evaluations in the teaching and learning process of the students and professors.
13
Participating Nursing Schools
13
Simulation labs equipped
74
Basic Nursing Skills
5470
Nursing students and teachers trained in basic computing skills
9066
Nursing students and teachers trained in basic nursing skills at computer labs and in simulation labs
Consultants
Dra. Catherine S. Lindenberg
Dra. Rosa Solórzano, Duke University
