Jolanda Hyska1, Genc Burazeri1, Sajmira Aderaj2
1Faculty of Medicine, University of Medicine, Tirana, Albania;
2Health for All Project, Tirana, Albania.
Introduction: WHO recommends transforming and scaling up health professionals’ education by revising and updating curricula on regular basis, linking disease burden to the training needs, adopting competency-based curricula, and equipping educators with competencies required to produce the required graduates.
In the context of Albania, nursing education programs should respond to the country’s national health agenda, the burden of disease and the entire Albanian society.
Objective: The conduction of an analysis the most important factors leading to development of a professional master’s degree programme in Family Nursing in Albania (MDPFNA) and to its successful implementation.
Methods: This evaluation was based on multidimensional analysis of the most important factors leading to development of a MDPFNA. Different data (based on a desk review and face to face interviews with key informants) were gathered about the environment in which the curriculum will be implemented and in which graduates will practice nursing; specific contextual factors that exist both within and outside the educational institution and have the potential to influence the school and its curriculum.
Results: Regarding the education and training, the current Albanian policy on human resources in the health field lacks effective coordination. As no professional MDPFNA has been developed and implemented to date, there is a clearly articulated need for the establishment of such a program in Albania by the Faculty of Technical Medical Science.
Conclusion: Education system in nursing should be reformed. It is very important the harmonization of the teaching programmes among all nursing faculties in basic education; aligning the nursing curricula to the international/European standards with the focus on practical competencies, abilities and skill-mix approach, development of the list of disciplines and specialties; and establishment of a national plan for the continuing professional development of nurses operating at all levels of health care services in Albania.
Keywords: competency-based curricula, education system, health agenda, nurse, professional master.