Curriculum framework for advanced practice nursing in sub-Saharan Africa: a multimethod study

OBJECTIVES: The implementation of advanced practice nursing (APN) programmes in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) has been difficult due to lack of SSA-specific curriculum frameworks or benchmarks to guide institutions in developing and implementing APN programmes. A few APN programmes in SSA were benchmarked on western philosophy and materials, making local ownership and sustainability challenging. This paper presents an SSA-specific concept-based APN (Child Health Nurse Practitioner, CHNP) curriculum framework developed to guide institutions in developing relevant and responsive APN curricula in order to qualify CHNP and contribute to a decreased incidence of preventable deaths of children in the SSA region. DESIGN: A sequential multimethod study design consisting of a scoping review, Delphi study, development of a framework by a curriculum team, and evaluation of the curriculum framework by faculty from 15 universities in SSA. SETTING: This study included universities from East, West, Central and Southern Africa. PARTICIPANTS: The study included international multidisciplinary health professionals and curriculum development experts from 15 universities in 10 SSA countries. RESULTS: A concept-based Advanced CHNP curriculum framework was developed. The faculty who evaluated the curriculum framework for applicability within their institutions and the SSA context unanimously stated that the framework is detailed, evidenced-based and could be adapted for other APN specialty areas. CONCLUSION: The Child Health Nurse Practitioner curriculum framework is comprehensive, context-specific and has the potential to respond to the special child healthcare needs of SSA. It is adaptable for other APN specialty programmes in SSA. Nursing leaders should lobby for funding and advocate for the introduction of the CHNP programme as a collaborative process between government, clinical services, communities and educational institutions.