Journal of Community Medicine & Health Education
Open Access

Abstract

Developing nurses at PhD level at the University of Zimbabwe is part of Research Capacity building not only of the institution but that of the nation. The production of excellent research in nursing and midwifery is dependent on a high-caliber, well-trained research nursing community. PhD training culminates into writing of thesis. The project work of each student is primarily the responsibility of the internal supervisor, with the support of an external supervisor and the postgraduate centre. The Department of Nursing Science is a recipient of training funds whose aim is to strengthen identified gaps in infrastructure and research capacity of the institution and develop a critical mass of nurses and midwife researchers capable of solving the current and emerging health challenges. Following revision of the existing university DPhil program, an integrated collaborative model of capacity building was implemented to rapidly escalate PhD training in the department. Through group teaching, supervisors in the department of nursing assisted the students to plan their research studies, including helping them to define their research topics, to identify the relevant research literature, databases and other relevant sources and to be aware of the standards in the discipline. To strengthen supervision, associate co-supervisors were sought from the departments of gynecology and obstetrics, laboratory, community medicine and pediatrics. These were chosen as subject and methods specialist to complement supervision according to the student topics. The college through the research support centre provided various methodology courses and good clinical practice. Excellence in research was achieved through review of the protocols by the higher degrees committee and ethical committees. Students have published in referred journals and presented papers regionally and internationally. This model is sustainability and efficient, fostering a high level of commitment, ownership and collaboration.

Biography

Clara Haruzivishe is a professor of Nursing at the University of Zimbabwe. She has received her Doctorate from Case Western Reserve University. Her research area is Maternal and Child health and Nursing Education. She also serves as a supervisor and coordinator of PhD programme. She also coordinates a NORHED grant awarded to the College of Health Sciences at the University of Zimbabwe. She has had many publications in referred journals.

E-mail: claraopha@gmail.com