Experiences of Nursing and Midwifery Faculty Staff about Muda: A Qualitative Study

Background: Employees play a critical role in managing Muda (waste) in organizations. In nursing schools, fostering a culture of continuous improvement and empowering staff to engage in waste reduction efforts can significantly enhance organizational efficiency. Accordingly, this study aimed to explore the perceptions of nursing and midwifery faculty staff regarding Muda. Methods: This qualitative study employed a content analysis approach. Eight employees from the Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery in Birjand were selected using purposive sampling. Data were collected through semi-structured in-depth interviews conducted from October to December 2022. All interviews were recorded, transcribed, and analyzed using Granheim and Lundman’s content analysis method. Results: Continuous and comparative analysis of the data revealed two main categories and ten subcategories. The main categories included organizational learning deficits and creating an environment for active learning and experience. Conclusion: The presence of Muda in educational organizations can lead to adverse professional consequences. Therefore, it is necessary for nursing faculty administrators to reduce waste, ultimately improving the quality of education for students.