Malawi

This international project is funded by Erasmus plus and builds on previous work undertaken with Kamuzu College of Nursing, Malawi.

The aim of the project is to:

• Further relationships between Kamuzu College of Nursing (KCN) and Cardiff University to enhance learning and appreciation of cultural differences in healthcare.
• Build on systematic review outcomes, embed an evidence base into student learning and clinical practice.
• Jointly plan a ‘practice development unit’ as a centre of excellence to underpin evidence based inter-professional learning for staff and students in clinical practice.
• Pilot and evaluate the practice development unit.

Reach

The project is co-designed between KCN and the School of Healthcare Sciences, Cardiff University. It includes funding for 5 KCN staff to visit Cardiff University and associated clinical areas; and 5 Cardiff University staff to visit Malawi. It also includes funding for a student scholarship which will allow a PhD student from Malawi to study at Cardiff University for 1 year.

A practice development unit will be established within Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital, Blantyre Malawi. This will be a ‘model ward’ where staff and students will be able to participate in the delivery of person focused care that is evidence based.

Impact

The project will help develop health professionals, professional practice and care delivery. It will provide a ‘safe haven’ for students to apply theory to practice and to learn how to improve standards.

It is driven by practitioners who identify the issues they wish to address; The PDSA model (Plan, Do, Study, Act) is then applied to these problem areas; the evidence base is scrutinised and audit criteria developed to assess baseline and improvements made.

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