Abstract

This study sought to assess factors influencing the implementation of NP in Buea regional hospital.

A descriptive cross-sectional study design was carried out at Buea regional hospital. A sample size of 50 nurses for the study. Data were collected through self-administered questionnaires. Quantitative data were analyzed using tables, bar charts and pie charts. Conclusively, the researcher found out that the factors influencing the implementation of NP were need to fill so many books, time consuming. Furthermore, age and experience are some of nurses demographic factors which serve as factors influencing the NP implementation.

Lack of continuous nursing process update training and resources to implement within the institution are major hindrance to NP implementation. Poor staffing ratio and high work load serves as barrier to NP implementation. From the overall percentages 98 of the nurses possess good knowledge of NP while only70 of the nurses in Buea regional hospital practice NP.

Furthermore, even with the above conclusion made, the researcher still urged that intervention by stake holders should continue within service trainings and mentorship in every level of nursing practice to help implement NP so as to prevent mortality rate and improve patient satisfaction and which will help mitigate these barriers on NP implementation.

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

This chapter will be talking about the background of the study, statement of problem, general objectives, significant of the study, scope of study and also definition of basic terms.

1.1 Background to the Study

Nursing process is described as a modified scientific method of clinical judgment used by nurses in client care. It was developed Ida Jean Orlando in the late 1960s with the observation of nurses in action. Moor (2003) explained that nursing process has been in use for over 25 years as a systematic approach to nursing practice.

They further described nursing process as an efficient and effective method for organizing knowledge and clinical decisions making in providing planned client care which has been undergoing constant evaluation and revision, but the concepts within the process remain central to nursing process.

The nursing process was initially an adopted form of problem solving technique based on theory used by nurses every day to help patients improve their health and assist doctors in treating patients. Its primary aim is to know the health status and the problems of clients which may be actual or potential. It is made of a series of stages that are used to achieve the objectives, the health improvement of the patient.

The use of nursing process can stop at any stage as deem necessary or can be repeated as needed. This process is inclusive of physical health as well as emotional aspect of patient health. Nursing knowledge is use throughout the process of formulating changes in approach to the patients changing condition. During this process, nurses use this knowledge to identify problems and changes that are occurring to the patient. Caring for a patient requires the nurse to communicate with patient to determine how they are feeling and gain the result of implemented care from the patient. Phases of the nursing process as identified Kozier et al (2004).

Currently, the methodology of the nursing process is used in healthcare centers around the world. And it use is associated with improvement in the quality of information, in inter -professional communication and in the measuring of the nursing process. In the area of Spain, the papers found suggested that the use of the nursing process began to spread in the 1990s and it widespread today. Cross sectional studies that analyzed the application of the nursing process in a specific area or region where found.(Latino 2013).

Utilization of the nursing process in many low and middle income countries has been a challenge. In Kenya, nursing process was modified to operationalize its implementation and hence the name “Kenya-Nursing Process (Kenya-NP)”. Purpose: The authors aim to publicize their experiences in mainstreaming nursing process in clinical settings in Kenya. Methodology: The Harris et al. (2012), Health Promotion Research Center dissemination framework has been used in mainstreaming Kenya-NP since the year 2010 (wagora et al 2015).

Cameroon is classified by the World Health Organization (WHO) as having a critical shortage of health personnel.(wook choak 2015)This shortfall impedes Cameroons’ progress of improving the human resources for health (HRH) to meet up with the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) by 2015. However, it is unknown whether the health workforce of Cameroon is distributed equally across geographic regions.( Tinyani et al 2010) Cameroon aims to achieve universal health coverage by 2035; to realize this objective, policies targeting training, recruitment, retention and effective deployment of motivated and supported health workforce as well as the development and improvement of health infrastructures remain the major challenge.

1.2 Problem statement

Health care provided to patients in our health care facilities is not comprehensive, it is not routine and haphazardly done. Nurses are losing focus for genuine concern of their patients and then rather they work like robots.

They now consider the patients as nuisance, they see them as too demanding a bother and waste of their time. Perhaps this explains why patients are not satisfied with the care provided and the significant number of morbidity and mortality rate even before patients are discharge. This prompted the researcher to conduct a study to assess the factors affecting the implementation of nursing process at the Buea regional Hospital.

1.3 Objectives of the Study

1.3.1 General Objective

To assess the factors influencing the implementation of nursing process in Buea Regional hospital

1.3.2 Specific Objectives

1. To investigate nurses knowledge on the nursing process
2. To identify the factors that influences the non-implementation of the nursing process
3. To identify the challenges faced by nurses in the implementation of the nursing process

1.4 Research Questions

1. Do nurses have adequate knowledge on nursing process?
2. How do nurses practice and implement the nursing process?
3. What are the difficulties faced by nurses on the use of the nursing care plan?