Swaziland health manpower training project : an evaluation of the nursing programs of the institute of health sciences

Evaluation covers the period 1979-5/81 and is based on site visits, a review of project documents, and interviews with project personnel. Overall, the nursing programs are progressing on schedule. Recommendations from a 1979 evaluation have been implemented: a principal was appointed to the Institute of Health Services (IHS), a midwife and psychiatric nursing tutor joined the IHS, and two rural areas were identified as sites for giving nurses clinical experience. However, faculty training and regional health planning and research were judged unfeasible overextensions given IHS resources. Regarding the BP, it is recommended that: (1) coordination be improved between classroom and clinical work and between curriculum content and faculty activities; (2) faculty assessments using program objectives as criteria be continued; (3) supervisory and administrative skills and personal development training be given added emphasis; (4) mental health concepts be integrated into the project; (5) the Year IV curriculum be structured; (6) a faculty manual and long-range plans to maintain sufficient faculty be developed; and (7) collaboration between nursing educators and the nursing service be improved. For the NPP it is recommended that: (1) supervision of students and graduates in clinical training be increased; (2) the role of the NP be defined; (3) the possibility of integrating NP specialists be explored; (4) admissions procedures be upgraded by having faculty select NP students on a competitive basis; (5) a reward system be developed for graduates; and (6) rural physical facilities and support services be improved.