REFLECTIONS ON NURSING EDUCATION ISSUES IN BOTSWANA

Abstract

Changes in nursing global market environments such as shortage of nursing personnel and increasing
diversity of students and health care providers demand that nursing education be aligned with new
developments if it is to continue being relevant. In this paper, the authors make a reflection on the
challenges facing nursing education in Botswana in the 21st century and suggest strategies for moving
forward. The challenges explored include nursing personnel shortage, the increasing diversity of nursing
students, increasing diversity of the health human resources in the country, and the proposed merger of the
health professions’ regulatory councils. Among the strategies for moving forward, it is obvious that working
in silos is no longer a viable strategy for health professionals and that collaboration should start right from
training. Although education is the main focus of the paper, practice cannot be ignored because teaching
prepares students for practice.