Abstract
Aim
to characterize the challenges experienced by nurses in Portuguese-speaking African countries and discuss the potential of international cooperation in this context.
Method
qualitative and descriptive study. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with nurses from Portuguese-speaking African countries and categorized through content analysis.
Results
nine nurses participated in the study. They were from the following countries: Angola, Cape Verde, Guinea Bissau, Mozambique and San Tome and Príncipe. Two categories emerged from the results, one focusing on the difficulties of Nursing in Portuguese-speaking African countries regarding the autonomy and appreciation necessary for the development and exercise of its competences. The second evidenced possibilities of connections based on networks for the integration and strengthening of Nursing, through international cooperation.
Conclusion and implications for practice
the study characterized as main difficulties the ones related to the work process, lack of autonomy, of human and physical structure. Therefore, international cooperation emerged as an important strategy for the capacity building of nurses from Portuguese-speaking African countries, as well as to deal with the huge challenges faced by nurses in their daily activities.
Keywords:
International Cooperation; Community of Portuguese-speaking countries; Nursing, Professional Autonomy; Human Resources, Nursing