Barriers to Higher Education in Nursing: Sindh, Pakistan

Nurses who are educationally prepared can make a difference in the outcome of health care. It is a consensus that nurses need to possess advanced up-to-date knowledge that enable them to analyze complex problems, take critical decisions, and move on to appropriate actions. The objective of this study was to identify, the demographic profile of the selected respondents and the barriers to higher education in nursing as perceived by the respondents selected from private and public hospitals.

This descriptive exploratory study was conducted in eight teaching hospitals/institution in Sindh, Pakistan. Using multistage sampling, data were collected through a questionnaire that was pilot tested and validated. Organizational, cultural and political barriers were identified as the main important barriers that hinder nurses from getting higher education. The study emphasized that nursing is a vital profession in the health care system and nurses need scientific knowledge and skills to enhance their practice and provide quality care to their clients. Due to lack of higher education in nursing, the nurses’ lag behind other professions, this in turn projects a low image of the nursing profession in the Pakistani society. It is recommended that nurses go for higher education.