title: The Nursing Education Partnership Initiative (NEPI): innovations in nursing and midwifery education.
abstract: The nursing and midwifery workforce is key to improving the performance of the health system overall. Health workforce shortages are significantly influenced by the productive capacity of health professions education institutions. Long-standing underinvestment in preservice nursing and midwifery education severely limits the capacity of institutions to educate nurses and midwives in sufficient numbers, and with the necessary clinical skills, for current and anticipated population health needs. The Nursing Education Partnership Initiative (NEPI) was established in 2011 by the U.S. President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief in response to key capacity-building challenges facing preservice nursing and midwifery education in Sub-Saharan Africa. NEPI has formed partnerships with governments and key stakeholders in Ethiopia, Democratic Republic of Congo, Lesotho, Malawi, and Zambia and supports 19 nursing and midwifery education institutions and 1 nursing council. NEPI has been informed by activities that strengthen education systems, institutions, and organizations as well as faculty capacity building. Ministry of health-led advisory groups were established to provide strategic direction and oversight for the work, fostering intersectoral dialogue and ensuring country ownership and sustainability. Three illustrative examples of innovations at the system, institution, and workforce levels describe approaches for country ownership, for addressing the shortage of highly qualified faculty, and for remedying the inadequate teaching and learning infrastructure.
authors: Dr. Middleton is regional nursing advisor, ICAP, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, New York. Dr. Howard is associate professor of epidemiology, Columbia University Medical Center, and director, Clinical and Training Unit, ICAP, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, New York. Dr. Dohrn is assistant professor of nursing, Columbia University School of Nursing, and nursing officer, Clinical and Training Unit, ICAP, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, New York. Ms. von Zinkernagel is acting global AIDS coordinator, U.S. Department of State, overseeing the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) program, Washington, DC. Dr. Parham Hopson is deputy principal to the Office of the Global AIDS Coordinator (OGAC) for the Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources and Services Administration, Rockville, MD. Dr. Aranda-Naranjo is director, Division of HIV Training and Capacity Development, Health Resources and Services Agency, Rockville, MD. Ms. Hall is a nurse consultant, Global Health Systems Branch, Division of Training and Capacity Development, HIV/AIDS Bureau, Health Resources and Services Administration, Rockville, MD. Prof. Malata is associate professor and principal, Kamuzu College of Nursing, University of Malawi, Malawi. Mr. Bvumbwe is deputy dean and lecturer, Faculty of Health Sciences, Mzuzu University, Malawi. Ms. Chabela is ICAP Lesotho NEPI nursing advisor, Lesotho. Ms. Molise is NEPI coordinator, Ministry of Health, Lesotho. Dr. El-Sadr is university professor and professor of epidemiology and medicine, Columbia University, and director, ICAP, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, New York.
authors: Lyn
authors: L
authors: Middleton
authors: Andrea A
authors: AA
authors: Howard
authors: Jennifer
authors: J
authors: Dohrn
authors: Deborah
authors: D
authors: Von Zinkernagel
authors: Deborah
authors: D
authors: Parham Hopson
authors: Barbara
authors: B
authors: Aranda-Naranjo
authors: Carolyn
authors: C
authors: Hall
authors: Address
authors: A
authors: Malata
authors: Thokozani
authors: T
authors: Bvumbwe
authors: Adeline
authors: A
authors: Chabela
authors: Nthabiseng
authors: N
authors: Molise
authors: Wafaa M
authors: WM
authors: El-Sadr
mesh_terms: D017954:Africa South of the Sahara; D057191:Capacity Building; D003695:Delivery of Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration; D004059:Diffusion of Innovation; D004506:Education, Nursing / Q000639:trends*; D005181:Faculty, Nursing / Q000458:organization & administration; D006801:Humans; D007391:International Cooperation; D008880:Midwifery / Q000193:education*; D009726:Nurses / Q000600:supply & distribution; D009937:Organizational Objectives; D016730:Program Development; D012579:Schools, Nursing / Q000458:organization & administration*; D014481:United States