Strengthening the role of the nurse in family medicine

The primary healthcare system in Albania faces the challenges of health manpower distribution and the capacity of personnel to face new health challenges related to managing NCDs and ageing of the population. Therefore, there is an increasing need to strengthen and update the profile and role of nurses in PHC through appropriate in- and pre-service training. In this framework, the SDC Health for All Project in Albania is, during its second phase, working on (I) redefining roles and responsibilities of PHC personnel with a focus on the role of nurses and (II) establishing an innovative master's program in Family Nursing:

(I) HAP initiated an inclusive and comprehensive consultation process of exploring the actual status of roles and functions of nurses at PHC and potentially tailor their profiles to the already emerged health needs of the Albanian population. A technical working group led by international nursing experts developed a road map and is carrying out context and SWOT analyses accordingly. Moreover, the working group will draft the scope of practice of advanced family nurse role and responsibilities and will define the structure and process of the care model.

(II) HAP is collaborating with the University of Medicine to establish a missing master's program in Family Nursing. To initiate the process, the multi-disciplinary working group, supported by international experts, established a development action plan. Nurse-professors from the Nursing Faculty visited health centers and health posts to get insights into the reality and practice of nurses to complement theoretical knowledge. Moreover, the carried out situational context analysis produced solid evidence used for the scope and the conceptual framework of the master's program already developed through a series of interactive workshops. This process led to drafting the main pillars of a competency-based family nursing curriculum.