ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Globally, there has been increased demand for higher education in nursing and midwifery to support evidence-based practice. It is believed that higher education in nursing leads to improved quality of care. The motivation for pursuing higher education, the choice of institution for learning and the effects of higher education programs have not been given much attention in research literature in Ghanaq OBJECTIVE: To assess the motivating factors, reasons for the choice of institution and the perceived effects of attaining higher educational qualifications among post-diploma graduate nurses and midwives. STUDY DESIGN: Descriptive cross-sectional study. SETTING: Kumasi. PARTICIPANTS: Convenience and snowball sampling were used to select 523 nurses and midwives who had pursued higher education after their Diploma in Nursing or Midwifery education. METHOD: A researcher-developed questionnaire was used to collect data on motivation, choice of institution and perceived effects of higher education by nurses and midwives. Data were analyzed through descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation and linear regression at 0.05 significance level. RESULTS: The greatest motivation for higher education by nurses/midwives was to improve clinical judgment. Academic quality and reputation of the institution were the main reasons for the choice of institution (n = 458, 92.7 %). There were weak but positive significant correlations between the perceived effects of higher nursing and midwifery education and pressure from the workplace (r = 0.204, p < .001), and increasing new demands from clients (r = 0.284, p < .001). Increasing demands from clients (ß = 0.203, p < .001) and improving social status (ß = 0.264, p < .001) were the motivating factors that influenced the perceived effects of higher nursing and midwifery education. CONCLUSION: The desire for improved professionalism and increased expertise are the reasons nurses and midwives seek higher education. Health managers should support nurses and midwives to attain higher education to improve the quality of care.