The role of nurses in implementation of public policy on adolescent health in Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru.

BACKGROUND: In Latin America, interventions aimed at adolescents' health suffer from a shortfall of investment and lack of sustainability. Nurses, as an integral part of health services and systems, can lead the implementation and development of public health policies to improve adolescent health. OBJECTIVE: To identify and analyze the role of nurses in the development and implementation of public policies and in the provision of health care to adolescents in Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru. METHODS: The research was carried out in three phases: a documentary analysis, an online survey, and semi-structured focus groups. A total of 48 documents were analyzed, 288 nurses participated in the survey, and 29 nurses participated in the focus groups. RESULTS: State policies aim to guarantee rights, with special protection for children and adolescents. It is an incremental process, with greater involvement of civil society and governments. Participants reported a lack of synergy between law and practice, as well as differences in regulatory compliance in rural areas and in populations of different ethnicities and cultures. Their perception was that the protection of adolescents is not specifically enshrined in the legal bases and regulatory structures of the countries, meaning that there are both protective factors and tensions in the regulatory framework. While nurses are highly committed to different actions aimed at adolescents, their participation in policy development and implementation is low, with barriers related to a lack of specialized training and working conditions. CONCLUSIONS: Given nurses' involvement in different actions aimed at adolescents, they could play a fundamental role in the development of policies for adolescents and ensure their effective implementation. Policymakers should consider revising the budget to make compliance viable, incorporating and using monitoring indicators, and increasing the involvement of educational institutions and the community.

[The role of nursing professionals in the development and care of adolescent health in HondurasPapel dos profissionais de enfermagem no desenvolvimento e na atenção à saúde de adolescentes em Honduras]. / El papel de los profesionales de enfermería en el desarrollo y atención de la salud adolescente en Honduras.

Objective: Identify and analyze the role of nursing professionals in the development and care of adolescent health in Honduras, by analyzing the curricular content of the training provided to nursing students with respect to adolescent health, and by studying policies on adolescent health. Methods: Mixed methods study, with a sequential explanatory approach, carried out from May to July 2023 through surveys of nursing schools, analysis of policy documents, a survey with nursing professionals, and a focus group. Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and qualitative data, applying the theoretical framework of Walt and Gilson. Results: During the research, 18 documents were analyzed and seven nursing schools, 141 nurses, and 10 key actors in leadership positions participated. The results point to the need to update and disseminate the regulatory framework, ensure the necessary resources and structure to implement sustainable intersectoral programs, and train professionals. Schools are an important space for the implementation of actions; in this context, the adoption of school nursing programs could be beneficial. Nurses were identified as key figures in program implementation and should be taken into consideration when developing policies aimed at adolescents. Conclusions: Nurses participate in various stages of the policy implementation process and can make important contributions to school health at the first level of care. To this end, it is necessary to increase the capacities of nurses and nursing educators in relation to current and relevant issues in adolescent care.

Objetivo: Identificar e analisar o papel dos profissionais de enfermagem no desenvolvimento e na atenção à saúde de adolescentes em Honduras por meio de análise do conteúdo da formação dos estudantes de enfermagem em saúde de adolescentes e das políticas relacionadas aos adolescentes. Métodos: Estudo de métodos mistos, com abordagem sequencial explanatória, realizado de maio a julho de 2023 por meio de um questionário aplicado a escolas de enfermagem, análise de documentos de política, um questionário aplicado a profissionais de enfermagem e um grupo focal. Os dados quantitativos foram analisados mediante estatísticas descritivas, e os qualitativos, usando o modelo teórico de Walt e Gilson. Resultados: Durante a pesquisa, foram analisados 18 documentos. Sete escolas de enfermagem, 141 profissionais de enfermagem e 10 atores-chave em cargos de liderança participaram do estudo. Os resultados apontam para a necessidade de atualizar e divulgar o marco normativo, garantir recursos e estrutura para a implementação de programas intersetoriais e sustentáveis e capacitar os profissionais. A escola representa um espaço importante para a implementação de ações, contexto no qual a adoção da enfermagem escolar pode ser proveitosa. Os profissionais de enfermagem foram identificados como atores-chave na implementação dos programas e devem ser levados em consideração no desenvolvimento de políticas voltadas para esse público. Conclusões: Os profissionais de enfermagem estão envolvidos em vários estágios do processo de implementação de políticas e podem fazer aportes importantes para a saúde escolar no nível da atenção primária. Para isso, é necessário aumentar a capacitação dos profissionais e docentes de enfermagem em tópicos atuais e relevantes da atenção a adolescentes.

[Health policy dialogue to strengthen nursing in UruguayDiálogo político-sanitário para o fortalecimento da enfermagem no Uruguai]. / El diálogo político sanitario para el fortalecimiento de enfermería en Uruguay.

This article presents the experience of the health policy dialogue on nursing held in Uruguay in 2021, based on the theory of change. Four working groups were held, with the participation of 725 people. The points discussed included: the shortage of registered nurses to implement programs and cover functions at all levels of health care; the poor visibility of the healthcare impact of the activities carried out; insufficient financial resources for undergraduate and postgraduate training; and poor integration of nurses in management teams and policy decision-making spaces in the country. Participants expressed the need to implement the national nursing development plan so that the country can: reduce the shortage of professionals; invest in job creation to meet the demand for professional care; improve staffing of services at all levels of care; improve working conditions; create new spaces for nurses by expanding their role through postgraduate training, while continuously improving the quality of training. Participants emphasized the need to increase intersectoral coordination in the areas of governance, regulation, and management, and to step up efforts to increase investment in health professionals in Uruguay.

Este artigo apresenta a experiência do diálogo político-sanitário sobre enfermagem realizado no Uruguai em 2021 com base na teoria da mudança. Foram organizados quatro grupos de trabalho, dos quais participaram 725 pessoas. Entre os pontos discutidos, destacam-se: a falta de profissionais graduados em enfermagem para desenvolver programas e cobrir funções em todos os níveis de atenção à saúde; a falta de visibilidade do impacto assistencial das atividades desenvolvidas; a insuficiência de recursos financeiros para programas de graduação e pós-graduação; e a pouca integração desses profissionais às equipes de gestão e aos espaços de tomada de decisão política no país. Os participantes indicaram a necessidade de implementar o plano nacional de desenvolvimento da enfermagem para que o país reduza o déficit de profissionais; invista na criação de cargos para atender à demanda por cuidados profissionais; melhore a dotação de pessoal nos serviços em todos os níveis de atenção; melhore as condições de trabalho; crie novas oportunidades de inserção para profissionais de enfermagem, ampliando suas funções por meio da pós-graduação; e aprimore continuamente a qualidade da formação. Os participantes enfatizaram a necessidade de aumentar a coordenação intersetorial nos aspectos de governança, regulação e gestão, bem como de acelerar os esforços no sentido de aumentar o investimento em profissionais de saúde no Uruguai.

[The importance of a gender focus in building resilient, equitable, and universal health systemsA importância da abordagem de gênero no desenvolvimento de sistemas de saúde resilientes, equitativos e universais]. / La importancia del enfoque de género en la construcción de sistemas de salud resilientes, equitativos y universales.

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic demonstrated the need to strengthen the focus on gender from an integrative and multisectoral perspective to address health care problems. This article seeks to highlight the importance of incorporating and strengthening the gender focus in policies for building resilient, equitable, and universal health care systems. With this objective in mind, the role of women in the health sector is addressed from two directions. The first examines women's conditions of access to health systems in the Region of the Americas and highlights the need to overcome the obstacles that prevent the full realization of their right to health care. The second discusses the preponderant role of women in the health labor market, and the need to expand their leadership in decision-making in the sector. Finally, an appeal is made for progress in the implementation of recommendations to strengthen the focus on gender and the role of women in health policies and systems.

A pandemia da doença do coronavírus de 2019 (COVID-19) demonstrou a necessidade de fortalecer a abordagem de gênero a partir de uma perspectiva integradora e multissetorial ao tratar das questões de saúde. Este artigo procura ressaltar a importância de incorporar e fortalecer a abordagem de gênero nas políticas para o desenvolvimento de sistemas de saúde resilientes, equitativos e universais. Com esse objetivo, este trabalho aborda o papel das mulheres no setor da saúde a partir de duas perspectivas. A primeira está ligada às condições de acesso das mulheres aos sistemas de saúde na Região das Américas, destacando a necessidade de superar os obstáculos que impedem o pleno exercício de seu direito à saúde. A segunda destaca o papel proeminente das mulheres no mercado de trabalho do setor da saúde e a necessidade de aumentar o seu papel de liderança na tomada de decisões no setor. Por fim, é feito um apelo para avançar com a implementação de recomendações destinadas a fortalecer a abordagem de gênero e o papel das mulheres nas políticas e sistemas de saúde.

Nursing engagement in research priorities focused on health systems and services in Latin America countries.

BACKGROUND: A strong nursing research agenda in Latin America is fundamental to universal health coverage. Nursing science can make important contributions to the health of Latin American people through knowledge generation that directly informs nursing practice, professional education, and health policy. METHODS: We used a cross-sectional survey design to assess nursing involvement in health systems and services research in Latin America in five priority areas: Policies and education related to nursing human resources; Structure, organization and dynamics of health systems and services; Science, technology, innovation, and information systems in public health; Health policies, governance, and social control; and Social studies in the health field. RESULTS: Nursing and midwifery participants (N = 856) from Latin American countries completed the survey. Respondents who reported conducting research focused primarily on Policies and Education related to Nursing Human Resources and Structure, Organization, and Dynamics of Health Systems and Services. Across the five priority areas, more nurses reported using research findings and/or being aware of research than conducting research. CONCLUSIONS: Survey results indicate that nursing research in Latin America is currently disproportionately focused on nursing education and practice. More research focused on information technology, nurse's impact on public health, and the threats posed by nurse migration is needed to better address health needs of Latin American populations.

[Interprofessional health education in the Region of the Americas from a nursing perspectiveEducação interprofissional em saúde na Região das Américas na perspectiva da enfermagem]. / Educación interprofesional en salud en la Región de las Américas desde la perspectiva de la enfermería.

This study presents a reflective analysis of the implementation of interprofessional education in undergraduate nursing courses, considering as an example the curricula of undergraduate nursing careers in Brazil. Despite investments to advance interprofessional education, its practice is not institutionalized in the curricula of undergraduate courses. These findings represent a limitation for the implementation of interprofessional education in nursing courses, and the case of Brazil allows to learn lessons for the education of nursing professionals in other countries of the Region of the Americas. Recommendations are provided for training, management and intersectoral articulation of health and education services, with emphasis on primary health care and the Sustainable Development Goals, aimed at educational institutions wishing to implement interprofessional education.

Neste estudo, foi realizada uma análise reflexiva sobre a implementação da educação interprofissional em cursos de graduação em enfermagem, considerando como exemplo os currículos dos cursos de graduação em enfermagem no Brasil. Apesar dos investimentos para avançar a educação interprofissional, sua prática não está institucionalizada nos currículos de graduação. Esses achados representam uma limitação para a implementação da educação interprofissional em cursos de enfermagem, e o caso do Brasil fornece lições para a formação de profissionais de enfermagem em outros países da Região das Américas. Medidas de treinamento, gestão e articulação intersetorial de serviços de saúde e educação, com ênfase nos cuidados primários de saúde e nos Objetivos de Desenvolvimento Sustentável, são recomendadas para instituições educacionais que desejam implementar a educação interprofissional.

Regulation of nursing practice in the Region of the Americas.

OBJECTIVE: To describe and analyze the current nursing regulations across countries in the Region of the Americas. METHODS: A country comparative analysis was carried out by gathering information from the ministries of health, nursing schools, councils, associations, and boards in 2018. The main categories evaluated were type of regulatory bodies, requirements for initial professional registration, and registration renewal. RESULTS: All countries regulate the nursing profession through a regulatory body. Competency exams for initial registration are required in the United States, Canada, and most Caribbean countries. Registration renewal is required in 54.3% of the countries. Continuing education is required for professional registration renewal in the United States, Canada, and 53% of Caribbean countries. Labor hours are required in the United States and Canada. CONCLUSION: Regulations promote and protect professional integrity. The Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization recommends that countries make efforts to evaluate competency and training, consider the use of competency exams for initial registration, and add continuing education as requirements for registration renewal.

OBJETIVO: Describir y analizar la normativa reguladora vigente en materia de enfermería en los países de la Región de las Américas. MÉTODOS: Se efectuó un análisis comparativo de los países reuniendo información de los ministerios de salud, escuelas de enfermería, consejos, asociaciones y comités profesionales en 2018. Las principales categorías evaluadas fueron los tipos de organismos reguladores, los requisitos para el registro profesional inicial y la renovación del registro. RESULTADOS: Todos los países regulan la profesión de enfermería por medio de un organismo regulatorio. Los Estados Unidos, Canadá y la mayoría de los países del Caribe exigen exámenes de competencia para el registro inicial. En el 54,3% de los países se exige la renovación periódica del registro. En los Estados Unidos, Canadá y el 53% de los países del Caribe se requiere cumplimentar educación continua para renovar el registro profesional. En los Estados Unidos y Canadá se requiere acreditar horas de trabajo. CONCLUSIÓN: Los mecanismos regulatorios promueven y protegen la integridad profesional. La Organización Panamericana de la Salud/Organización Mundial de la Salud recomienda que los países evalúen la competencia y la capacitación profesionales, consideren la posibilidad de utilizar exámenes de competencia para el registro inicial y requieran educación continua como requisito para renovar el registro profesional.

Maternal health training priorities for nursing and allied professions in Haiti.

OBJECTIVES: This study summarizes the findings of a training needs and priority assessment completed in Haiti. Its objective is to describe the characteristics of nursing and allied professions providing first level maternal health care and identify training needs and priorities to inform planning of Human Resources for Health interventions. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey was completed between October 2016 and March 2017 by the Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization Haiti office in collaboration with national health authorities. Participants reached consensus to submit one finalized version of the survey. Data were collected on composition, capacities, and training needs and priorities of traditional birth attendants, community health workers, registered nurses, professional midwives, and auxiliary nurses. RESULTS: Haiti relies heavily on community level workers including community health workers, auxiliary nurses, and traditional birth attendants. Traditional birth attendants attend the majority of Haiti's births, despite having low education levels and not being regulated by the Ministry of Public Health and Population. All professional categories prioritize preventive capacities such as timely identification of complications, while none are trained to manage postpartum hemorrhage, preeclampsia, or eclampsia. Management of obstetric emergencies is a training priority for Haiti but is not part of the scope of work of the nursing and allied health professions included in this study. CONCLUSIONS: Community level health workers are key in providing preventive care and referral of complicated pregnancies, but lack of access to providers qualified to treat obstetric complications remains a challenge to reducing maternal mortality.

[Skill mix of nurses and primary health care professionals: a systematic review]. / Combinação de tarefas do enfermeiro e de outros profissionais na atenção primária em saúde: uma revisão sistemática.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effectiveness of the strategy of skill mix of nurses and other health care professionals in primary health care. METHODS: Systematic review of the literature aligned with the recommendations of the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA), including observational and intervention studies. No restrictions were established for period or country of publication; studies published in Spanish, English and Portuguese were included. The search was carried out in MEDLINE, CINAHL, LILACS, EMBASE and Web of Science electronic databases. RESULTS: Eighteen studies were analyzed, including 6 from the United States; 3 from the Netherlands; 2 from the United Kingdom; 1 each from Australia, South Africa, South Korea, Scotland, Haiti and Japan; and 1 study with a prospective observational design from 8 countries. The studies reported that the skill mix among health professionals enables a better use of material resources; optimizes time spent on care; improves adhesion to treatment, quality of care and commitment and satisfaction with the work; and reduces the level of psychological distress in nursing professionals. CONCLUSIONS: The expansion of tasks of nurses and other health care professionals, and the skill mix as well as the development of interprofessional teams, are strategies that help to face a scarcity and poor distribution of human resources in urban and non-urban areas with improvement of the health care of the population and satisfaction of professionals and clients.

Distance learning and patient safety: Report and evaluation of an online patient safety course.

Patient safety is a critical topic in health care globally, with implications for nurses, physicians, administrators, and most importantly, patients and their well-being. Online distance learning (ODL) is widely accepted among most disciplines in higher education and has been used to promote patient safety knowledge among health care students and professionals in diverse contexts. This article reports on an online Nursing and Patient Safety course developed in 2012 by the University of Miami School of Nursing and Health Studies in conjunction with the Pan American Health Organization and the International Network for Nursing and Patient Safety. The study's objectives are to describe the implementation of an international ODL program to enhance patient safety knowledge in nurses and nursing students, and to examine the participants' assessments of this online approach as an effective learning tool. Most participants who completed the Nursing and Patient Safety ODL course reported being satisfied with the course content and experience, and demonstrated increased knowledge on patient safety, as measured by post-module quizzes and self-report. Limitations of the study include the lack of a comparison group, disparity in the number of participants across the course's language formats (English, Portuguese, Spanish), and the large number of participants who registered for but did not complete the course. Future research should identify obstacles to course completion, explore participants' awareness of patient safety issues and perceived need for more instruction, and look at ways to disseminate the course to the broadest international population of nurses and nursing students.

La seguridad del paciente es un tema fundamental en la atención de la salud a nivel mundial, con repercusiones para los enfermeros, médicos, administradores y, lo que es más importante, para los pacientes y su bienestar. La educación a distancia en línea está ampliamente aceptada en la mayoría de las disciplinas de enseñanza superior y se ha empleado para difundir los conocimientos en materia de seguridad del paciente a los estudiantes de atención de salud y los profesionales en diversos contextos. En este artículo se informa sobre el curso en línea de enfermería y seguridad del paciente creado en el 2012 por la facultad de enfermería y estudios de salud de la Universidad de Miami, conjuntamente con la Organización Panamericana de la Salud y la Red Internacional de Enfermería y Seguridad del Paciente. Los objetivos del estudio son describir la ejecución de un programa internacional de educación a distancia en línea para mejorar el conocimiento sobre la seguridad del paciente de los enfermeros y los estudiantes de enfermería, y examinar las evaluaciones de los participantes sobre este enfoque en línea como herramienta eficaz de aprendizaje. La mayoría de los participantes en este curso afirmó sentirse satisfecho con su contenido y experiencia, y demostró un mayor conocimiento sobre la seguridad del paciente, de acuerdo con las mediciones de las encuestas posteriores al módulo y la autoevaluación. Entre las limitaciones del estudio se aprecia la falta de un grupo de comparación, una disparidad en el número de participantes entre las diferentes versiones lingüísticas del curso (español, inglés y portugués) y el gran número de participantes que se inscribieron sin llegar a finalizar el curso. Las futuras investigaciones deberán indicar cuáles son los obstáculos para la finalización del curso, explorar la concienciación de los participantes en temas relativos a la seguridad del paciente y las necesidades que perciben de una instrucción más profunda, así como considerar modos de mayor difusión del curso en la comunidad internacional de enfermeros y estudiantes de enfermería.

A segurança do paciente é um tema fundamental para a assistência de saúde em todo o mundo, com implicações para enfermeiros, médicos, administradores e, mais importante ainda, para os pacientes e o seu bem-estar. A educação à distância online (EDO) conta com grande aceitação na maioria das disciplinas do ensino superior e tem sido utilizada para transmitir conhecimentos sobre segurança do paciente a estudantes e profissionais da saúde em diversos contextos. Este artigo descreve um curso online de Enfermagem e Segurança do Paciente desenvolvido em 2012 pela Faculdade de Enfermagem e Estudos da Saúde da Universidade de Miami, em conjunto com a Organização Pan-Americana da Saúde e a Rede Internacional de Enfermagem e Segurança do Paciente. Os objetivos do estudo são descrever a implementação de um programa internacional de EDO para melhorar os conhecimentos de enfermeiros e estudantes de enfermagem sobre segurança do paciente e examinar a forma como os participantes avaliaram a eficácia desta abordagem online como uma ferramenta de aprendizagem. Em sua maioria, os participantes que completaram o curso online de Enfermagem e Segurança do Paciente afirmaram ter tido uma boa experiência com o curso e estar satisfeitos com o seu conteúdo; além disso, demonstraram maiores conhecimentos sobre segurança do paciente, medidos por questionários aplicados após os módulos e pela autoavaliação. As limitações deste estudo incluem a falta de um grupo de comparação, a disparidade no número de participantes nos diferentes formatos do curso (inglês, português, espanhol) e o grande número de participantes que se inscreveram mas não completaram o curso. A pesquisa futura deve identificar os obstáculos à conclusão do curso, explorar a conscientização dos participantes sobre questões de segurança do paciente e a necessidade de mais instrução e procurar formas de divulgar o curso para uma população internacional mais ampla de enfermeiros e estudantes de enfermagem.

Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization Collaborating Centers in Nursing and Midwifery in Haiti.

OBJECTIVE: To describe partnerships that Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO) Collaborating Centers in Nursing and Midwifery have in Haiti, and their contribution to promoting universal health coverage in that country. METHODS: In 2017, semistructured interviews were conducted by telephone or email to update the status of activities and collaborations that were mentioned in a 2016 report (which covered efforts prior to early 2016) by the office of the Regional Advisor on Nursing and Allied Health Personnel at PAHO/WHO. Using that information, two of the authors categorized the Collaborating Center activities into focal areas. RESULTS: Six of the nine Collaborating Centers mentioned in the 2016 PAHO/WHO report participated in the 2017 semistructured interviews. The five focal areas identified were: 1) direct care/primary health care, 2) research, 3) workforce development, 4) curriculum development, and 5) shared educational activities. CONCLUSIONS: Current PAHO/WHO Nursing and Midwifery Collaborating Center partnerships in Haiti support universal health access and coverage through direct provision of care with ongoing Haiti-based clinics; research in topics relevant to Haitian partners; assistance with continuing education for nurses; and shared educational activities. These efforts are enhanced through partnerships with Haitian organizations and the Ministry of Public Health and Population. Coordination among PAHO/WHO Collaborating Centers could augment individual schools' efforts to assist health providers and institutions in Haiti to improve health outcomes and support universal health coverage.

Maternal health training priorities for nursing and allied health workers in Colombia, Honduras, and Nicaragua.

OBJECTIVE: To assess maternal health training priorities for primary care human resources for health (HRH) in nursing and allied health workers in Colombia, Honduras, and Nicaragua, to inform maternal care HRH strategic planning efforts. METHODS: This Washington, D.C.-based study utilized cross-sectional survey methodology to collect country-level data. From October 2016 to March 2017, a needs assessment tool was developed by the Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO) and PAHO/WHO Collaborating Centers. Data collection was completed by PAHO/WHO country offices, in collaboration with national health authorities and other high-level government personnel. The collected data included information on the composition, capacities, and training priorities of traditional birth attendants (TBAs), community health workers (CHWs), registered nurses (RNs), and auxiliary nurses in the three study countries; the findings were summarized in a report. RESULTS: Data on the health workforce composition in the three countries indicated reliance on HRH with low levels of education and training, with limited integration of TBAs. In all three countries, management of obstetric emergencies was a training priority for RNs, and identification of danger signs was a priority for CHWs and TBAs. Training priorities for auxiliary nurses varied widely across the three countries and included health promotion, preconception and prenatal care, and obstetric emergencies. There was also a wide range in the total number of HRH across the three countries. CONCLUSIONS: Reliance on health workers with low levels of training is concerning but can be mitigated through in-service training. Training priorities are consistent with the major causes of maternal mortality, and Latin America and Caribbean region training programs show promise for improving quality of care. In the long term, planning for maternal care HRH should seek to increase the concentration of health professionals that are more highly skilled.

[Distribution of the nursing workforce in the Region of the AmericasDistribuição de pessoal de enfermagem na Região das Américas]. / Distribución de la fuerza de trabajo en enfermería en la Región de las Américas.

OBJECTIVE: Describe the distribution of the nursing workforce in countries of the Region of the Americas and the relation between the number of human resources in nursing and maternal mortality ratios. METHODS: Descriptive and exploratory analysis of 27 countries of the Region. The variables in the study were the proportion of health professionals per country and subregion; professional category; and nurse-to-physician ratio. The maternal mortality ratio was used as an overall indicator of the health of the population to analyze its relationship to the number of nurses. Frequency distribution and density of human resources in nursing were analyzed per country and subregion. RESULTS: The distribution of nursing personnel was heterogeneous. Some countries had more than 80 nurses per 10 000 population and others had fewer than five professionals per 10 000 population. In 34.1% of the countries, the nurse-to-physician ratio was less than 1. Differences in the distribution of nursing personnel were observed between regions and subregions, and within countries. CONCLUSIONS: In several countries, the number of nurses per capita was less than expected. The majority of the countries showed a significantly lower proportion of licensed nurses with respect to technical and auxiliary personnel. It is necessary to implement initiatives to increase the number of licensed nurses throughout the Region.

OBJETIVO: Descrever a distribuição de pessoal de enfermagem nos países da Região das Américas e estabelecer a relação do número de profissionais de enfermagem com o índice de mortalidade materna. MÉTODOS: Estudo descritivo e exploratório conduzido em 27 países da Região das Américas. As variáveis estudadas foram proporção de profissionais por país e subregião, categoria profissional e relação enfermeiro-médico. O índice de mortalidade materna, por ser um indicador geral de saúde da população, foi usado para analisar a relação com o aspecto quantitativo de enfermeiros. Foram analisadas a distribuição de frequências e a densidade dos profissionais de enfermagem por país e sub-região. RESULTADOS: Verificou-se uma distribuição heterogênea do pessoal de enfermagem, com alguns países com mais de 80 enfermeiros por 10 mil habitantes e outros com menos de cinco profissionais por 10 mil habitantes. Observou-se uma relação enfermeiro-médico inferior a um em 34,1% dos países. Houve diferenças na distribuição de pessoal de enfermagem por região, sub-região e dentro do próprio país. CONCLUSÕES: Em vários países da Região das Américas, o número de enfermeiros por habitantes é menor que o esperado. A maioria dos países tem uma defasagem considerável na razão do número de enfermeiros licenciados em relação ao pessoal de enfermagem técnico e auxiliar. É necessário implementar iniciativas para aumentar o número de enfermeiros licenciados em toda a Região.

Developing nurse leaders across the Americas: evaluation of an online nursing leadership course.

Development of leadership capacities in the nursing workforce is essential to achieving universal health in the Region of the Americas. This evaluation considered the effectiveness of an online leadership course offered in English and Spanish to nurses throughout Latin America and the Caribbean. The online course was an asynchronous eight-module leadership nursing course created and offered by the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) Virtual Campus. A retrospective, descriptive design was used to evaluate learner performance data from the modules. Learner performance on the course was analyzed. Electronic surveys were distributed to individuals who withdrew prior to course completion to obtain information regarding the reason for withdrawal. In all, 289 individuals from 41 countries participated in the online course. Learner performance demonstrated improvement from pre- to post-test. The most frequent reason for not completing the course was being too busy with other obligations. The Spanish-language course version received more enrollment applications than any other course in the virtual campus' 12-year history. The evaluation concluded that continuing education that develops nursing leadership is desired across Latin America and the Caribbean. Online education through the PAHO Virtual Campus may be a low-cost yet powerful means of disseminating knowledge to the nursing workforce throughout the Americas.

El desarrollo de las capacidades de liderazgo en el personal de enfermería es esencial para alcanzar la salud universal en la Región de las Américas. En esta evaluación se analizó la eficacia de un curso de liderazgo en línea en inglés y en español que se ofreció a personal de enfermería en toda América Latina y el Caribe. El curso en línea fue un curso asíncrono de liderazgo en enfermería de ocho módulos, creado y ofrecido por el Campus Virtual de la Organización Panamericana de la Salud (OPS). Se usó un diseño retrospectivo y descriptivo para evaluar los datos de desempeño de los alumnos en los módulos. Se analizó el desempeño de los alumnos en cuanto al aprendizaje el curso. Se enviaron encuestas electrónicas a las personas que abandonaron el curso antes de su finalización para obtener información sobre los motivos de deserción.En total, 289 personas de 41 países participaron en los cursos en línea. Se detectaron mejoras en el desempeño de los alumnos antes y después de la prueba. La razón más frecuente por la que no completaron el curso fue que estaban muy ocupados con otras obligaciones. La versión del curso en español tuvo más inscriptos que cualquier otro curso en los 12 años del Campus Virtual. La conclusión de la evaluación fue que en toda América Latina y el Caribe se desea recibir educación continua que fomente las capacidades de liderazgo en enfermería. La educación en línea por medio del Campus Virtual de la OPS puede ser un medio económico, pero a la vez poderoso, de difundir conocimiento al personal de enfermería en la Región de las Américas.

Desenvolver a capacidade de liderança na equipe de enfermagem é fundamental para alcançar a saúde universal na Região das Américas. Foi realizada uma avaliação da efetividade de um curso online de práticas de liderança em enfermagem ministrado em inglês e em espanhol ao pessoal de enfermagem em toda a América Latina e o Caribe. Tratou-se de um curso online assíncrono com oito módulos sobre práticas de liderança em enfermagem, elaborado e oferecido pelo Campus Virtual da Organização Pan-Americana da Saúde (OPAS). Foi usado um delineamento descritivo retrospectivo para avaliar os dados do desempenho dos alunos nos módulos. Foram enviadas aos participantes que não concluíram o curso uma pesquisa eletrônica para a coleta de dados sobre os motivos do abandono.Ao todo, 289 profissionais de 41 países fizeram o curso online. Houve melhoria no desempenho dos alunos entre o pré-teste e o pós-teste. Estar muito ocupado com outros compromissos foi o motivo mais frequentemente informado para não concluir o curso. O número de inscrições de profissionais no curso na versão em espanhol foi o mais alto dentre os cursos oferecidos nos 12 anos de vida do campus virtual. Esta avaliação demonstrou que existe uma demanda por educação continuada para desenvolver liderança em enfermagem na América Latina e Caribe. A educação online por meio do Campus Virtual da OPAS é um recurso de baixo custo, porém de grande influência, para difundir o conhecimento entre o pessoal de enfermagem nas Américas.

Implementation strategy for advanced practice nursing in primary health care in Latin America and the Caribbean.

SYNOPSIS Advanced practice nursing (APN) is a term used to describe a variety of possible nursing roles operating at an advanced level of practice. Historically, APN roles haves evolved informally, out of the need to improve access to health care services for at-risk and disadvantaged populations and for those living in underserved rural and remote communities. To address health needs, especially ones related to primary health care, nurses acquired additional skills through practice experience, and over time they developed an expanded scope of practice. More recently, APN roles have been developed more formally through the establishment of graduate education programs to meet agreed-upon competencies and standards for practice. The introduction of APN roles is expected to advance primary health care throughout Latin America and the Caribbean, where few such roles exist. The purpose of the paper is to outline an implementation strategy to guide and support the introduction of primary health care APN roles in Latin America and the Caribbean. The strategy includes the adaptation of an existing framework, utilization of recent research evidence, and application of knowledge from experts on APN and primary health care. The strategy consists of nine steps. Each step includes a national perspective that focuses on direct country involvement in health workforce planning and development and on implementation. In addition, each step incorporates an international perspective on encouraging countries that have established APN programs and positions to collaborate in health workforce development with nations without advanced practice nursing.

Applying an ecological restoration approach to study patient safety culture in an intensive care unit.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: To gain an understanding of medication safety culture and other quality issues in a Brazilian intensive care unit using a restorative approach. BACKGROUND: Patient safety should be considered one of the pillars of quality in health care. Thus, patient safety culture is increasingly being explored as a guide for quality improvement efforts. DESIGN: A qualitative approach. METHODS: Participatory photographic research methods from the field of ecological restoration were adapted in this study. This study used focus groups, then subsequent nurse-led photo-narrated walkabouts, and photo elicitation with 23 nurses and one physician in interactive phases of data collection and analysis over an eight-month timeframe. RESULTS: The core themes identified were: the 'medication system shapes patient safety' and the 'feeling of helplessness in the face of the prevailing organization culture'. Participants discussed supports exiting in the intensive care unit that shape medication safety, the barriers that impede safe medication management, the solutions to improve medication safety and the creation of a better medication safety culture. CONCLUSIONS: The methods used allowed participants to visualise sound practices as well as key safety issues, reflect on their day-to-day work, re-think potential improvements, and enact changes to improve medication safety and medication safety culture. However, the patient safety culture is also marked by administrative pressure. The hospital needs to adopt participatory management, where the health professionals can act together with the organisational leaders to promote a just culture. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: The participatory photographic research methods from the field of ecological restoration provided participants with a tool to promote patient safety culture and engage policy change dialogue. However, it will be important in future restorative research to track-specific safety outcomes over time to assess the cost-benefit of the adoption of participatory management models.

Health literature authored by nurses within the LAC region: a cross-sectional study.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze current trends and directions in Latin America and Caribbean (LAC) nursing research and identify areas that need development. METHODS: A search was conducted in PubMed and LILACS for studies published in English from 1 January 2008 to 26 June 2014 that met the inclusion criteria (health research conducted in the LAC region by authors with an explicit nursing affiliation working in a LAC country). Two reviewers assessed and extracted the data. RESULTS: More than 4 000 references met the inclusion criteria and 1 343 of those were published in English during the search time period. Although the research originated from 17 different countries, most of it was produced by Brazil. The majority of the studies were from academic institutions (67%), 23.9% involved multi-institutional collaboration, and 5.4% involved multi-country collaboration. Almost all of the studies (98%) were applied research and had a descriptive (55%) or qualitative (30%) design. The most prevalent topic was nursing care (23.4%). Health systems and services were the least studied topics. /About 25% of the studies contained some reference to United Nations Millennium Development Goals. CONCLUSIONS: The overwhelming majority of LAC countries rely on the scientific findings of a few leading countries in the region. Future directions should include the establishment of an agenda for the region and/or by country to define research priorities within the context of nursing practices. It is imperative for nurses to influence and conduct research in areas of policy and health systems and services given their important role in promoting, restoring, and maintaining health in individuals, and in helping to ensure universal access to health and universal health coverage.

A systematic review of nursing research priorities on health system and services in the Americas.

OBJECTIVE: To systematically review literature on priorities in nursing research on health systems and services in the Region of the Americas as a step toward developing a nursing research agenda that will advance the Regional Strategy for Universal Access to Health and Universal Health Coverage. METHOD: This was a systematic review of the literature available from the following databases: Web of Science, PubMed, LILACS, and Google. Documents considered were published in 2008-2014; in English, Spanish, or Portuguese; and addressed the topic in the Region of the Americas. The documents selected had their priority-setting process evaluated according to the "nine common themes for good practice in health research priorities." A content analysis collected all study questions and topics, and sorted them by category and subcategory. RESULTS: Of 185 full-text articles/documents that were assessed for eligibility, 23 were selected: 12 were from peer-reviewed journals; 6 from nursing publications; 4 from Ministries of Health; and 1 from an international organization. Journal publications had stronger methodological rigor; the majority did not present a clear implementation or evaluation plan. After compiling the 444 documents' study questions and topics, the content analysis resulted in a document with 5 categories and 16 subcategories regarding nursing research priorities on health systems and services. CONCLUSIONS: Research priority-setting is a highly important process for health services improvement and resources optimization, but implementation and evaluation plans are rarely included. The resulting document will serve as basis for the development of a new nursing research agenda focused on health systems and services, and shaped to advance universal health coverage and universal access to health.