Regulación de la educación superior del pregrado de Enfermería en América Latina 2004

Abstract

Comparative-descriptive study about the regulation of nursing pre-grade upbringing Latin-America. An electronic form for data collection was designed in which necessary steps were taken by key informants from each country. Study population consisted of nineteen Latin-American countries; sixteen countries answered the form and the data for the remaining three  countries were achieved from secondary sources.

Outcomes highlight that it Latin-America 75.8% of nursing pre-grade programs are vinculated to Universities, which show an increase over 1960 and 1985 rate of 52% and 69% respectively (CIE, 1985). Fifty six programs are still vinculated to hospitals, 37.5% within the public sector and 62.5% within the private sector. The growth of nursing programs in non university institutions is related to the increasing number of technical programs and nursing diploma programs.

A diversity in degrees and training types was found, as well as Wide range in the theoretical/practice hours required for confering a grade or diploma. Several dilemmas are present about minimal content regulation and the demands prior to entering college education in the face of the university’s autonomy notion.

From eight countries that have an accredit system, seven has accredited nursing programs and one is in the process as well. Six countries dont’n have such a system; however on tour of these, programs are in the auto-evaluation  process as a previous step to accreditation.

Recommendations and conclusions point out to the need that ALADEFE, as the academical organism that represents nursing education in the area, would propose quality criteria and indicators for education programs to the countries that could ease ongoing enhancing for offering ideal professionals to health services and competent within the globalization framework of these services.