A STUDY ON THE PERSPECTIVE OF INTEGRATING COMPREHENSIVE PHYSICAL ASSESSMENT INTO NURSING PRACTICE IN GHANA

Abstract

The study is aimed at forging a transformation in the clinical orientation of nursing and midwifery practice in Ghana by enabling an integration of a comprehensive physical assessment as a crucial training and service delivery component of nursing and midwifery in the Ghana health care system. The use of comprehensive physical assessment in nursing service delivery in Ghana, though taught as a component of courses, it is rarely practiced by nurses and midwives in Ghana. A qualitative study was conducted among nurses and midwives as individuals, Nursing and Midwifery association personnel and non-nurses and midwives within the health care fraternity.The findings revealed a gross deficit on the subject by nursing and midwifery lecturers in terms of knowledge and skills. However, nurses and midwives interviewed approved of the skill of physical assessment and intimated that it has been long overdue. According to the non-nurses and midwives interviewed, the medical officers and paramedical staff or health administrators, a comprehensive physical assessment by nurses and midwives will enhance patient care on one hand, while some of these categories of health workers opined that it would increase rivalry between medical doctors and nurses and midwives practice within the health care system. The researchers recommend that comprehensive physical assessment be made an integral part of nursing and midwifery training and practice in Ghana