Challenges in implementing nursing care plan in public hospitals in Senegal: Case of Ziguinchor and Kaolack

Introduction. Among mechanisms capable to provide quality care, the use of nursing care plans occupies a predominant place. The nursing care plan is a tool that allows to structure the delivery of nursing care to patients. It can be an essential element for ensuring monitoring and continuity of nursing in patient management. Despite the teaching of the Nursing Care Process (NCP) including nursing care plans in nursing and midwifery training schools, the use of nursing care plan struggles to get started in public health facilities in Senegal. The objective of this study is to identify the barriers to the use of nursing care plan in public hospitals in Senegal. Methodology. The study type is descriptive and cross-sectional. Mixed sampling (random and non-random) allowed us to select zones and then public hospitals, care units, nurses and midwives, and the management team based on well-defined criteria. Questionnaires and an interview guide were used to collect data. Results. The major barriers to the use of nursing care plan in public health facilities in Senegal would be the weak reinforcement of continuing education on nursing care plans, the non-existence of nursing file, the lack of a legal framework and support from hierarchical superiors. Most of staff (79.2%) declared not being familiar with the designing / use of a nursing care plan. The main reasons cited by staff for not using nursing care plans are: lack of materials (pens, temperature sheets, monitoring sheets, blood pressure devices) (91.7%), work overload (87.5%), excess of patients (81.3%), absence of training (79.2%), lack of nursing care plan models that could serve to inspire nurses (60.4%). Conclusion. For a sustainable implementation of the nursing care plan in public hospitals in Senegal, it is important to put in place a legal framework which will specify the obligations of nursing staff in relation to the design and use of the nursing care plan with the support of hierarchical authorities through refresher training for nursing and midwifery staff. Keywords. Barriers, use of, nursing care plan, Senegal.