Ly, C. Belitung Nursing Journal. 2018 December;4(6):619-621 Received: 17 October 2018 | Revised: 22 October 2018 | Accepted: 26 October 2018 https://belitungraya.org/BRP/index.php/bnj/index © 2018 The Author(s) This is an Open Access article DistributeD unDer the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License which permits unrestricted non-commercial use, Distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. PERSPECTIVE ISSN: 2477-4073 CHALLENGES IN NURSING EDUCATION IN CAMBODIA: A PERSPECTIVE FROM A NURSE Chanvatanak LY* Department of Health Professions Education, University of Health Sciences, Cambodia *Corresponding author: Chanvatanak LY, MHPEd, BSN, RN Department of Health Professions Education University of Health Sciences, Cambodia Email: [email protected] Keywords nursing education; Cambodia; challenges After passing the Khmer Rouge regime the other four schools are Regional from 1975 to 1979, Cambodia starts to Training Center (RTC) located in four develop its own country with limited provinces, at Komport, Kompong Cham, resources to compete with the other Battam bang and at Stung Treng under ASEAN countries. The Ministry of Health direct supervision of MoH, which have (MoH) of Cambodia has been pushing and been operated in the entire country with a encouraging nursing schools to produce very limited facilities (International more human resources for better health of Council of Nurses, 2017). community. The University of Health Sciences is well Historically, Cambodian nursing education known as the oldest government university started from the end of 10th centuries and in Cambodia, which offers various the beginning of 11th centuries along with programs in health sciences including the leadership of the Queen INDRADEVY nursing, medicine, dentistry and pharmacy and Khmer’s pharaoh JAIYAVARMAN- under the support from MoH (University VII during the Angkor era. In 1979, the of Health Science, 2013). Led by the primary nursing and midwifery course was UHS’s Rector, Professor Saphonn firstly commenced. In 1980, the 3-year Vonthanak, nursing program has more program (called as Diploma of Secondary opportunities to expand international Nurse) started and recognized as the networking and provide more nursing highest nursing education at the national programs such as: Associated Degree in level (Cambodian Council of Nurses, Nursing (AND) for 3 years, Bachelor of 2007). Today, there are only five Sciences in Nursing (BSN) as national government schools of nursing are program, and International Program for established: one in Phnom Penh called as Bachelor Nursing (IPBN) for 4 years. In Technical School for Medical Care addition, the upgrading program is also (TSMC) under the umbrella of the established, which is called as Bridging University of Health Sciences (UHS), and Bachelor Nursing (BBN) for 2 years in Belitung Nursing Journal, Volume 4, Issue 6, November - December 2018 619 Ly, C. (2018) part-time curriculum (one week per month graduates are majoring in nursing, but and 9 hours a day from Monday to specifically in health professions Saturday), and Bachelor of Ophthalmic education, public health, and nutrition. Nurse (BON) for full time with 1-year This may limit the knowledge or curriculum established in 2014. Both understanding regarding nursing and its programs are eligible for those who hold underpinning philosophy. Although the ADN diploma certificate (University of Ministry of Health of Cambodia has been Health Science & National Institute of encouraging nurse educators to continue Public Health, 2016). Specifically, the education since 2001 (Koy, 2016), but UHS has been nominated as the Technical nurse intention to continue education Working Group (TWG) in order to remains low. It may be due to lack of develop the curriculum of Master of promotion for nurses who hold higher Sciences in Nursing to support further degree to get higher position, lack of education to all nurses in Cambodia. The scholarship or educational supports from TWG will be working as well with the the government, and the absence of master local and international stakeholders. nursing program in Cambodia, which force nurses to go out of the country On the other hand, private universities are leaving their family. However, the factors also established in Cambodia, such as the related to nurse intention to continue International University (IU), the education should be further explored for University of Puthisastra (UP), the Chenla more understanding. University (CU), the Norton University (NU), and the Health Sciences Institute of LaCk of faCilities for clinical nursing Royal Cambodian Armed Forces (HIS- practice RCAF) to produce more nurses with better Most universities offering health sciences quality in Cambodia. However, the program have no own teaching hospital for successfulness of nursing education is not practice while the number of students have without its challenges. This article aims to increased every year. Thus, this should be provide some challenges in nursing prioritized. The teaching hospitals should education in Cambodia, according to my be added in response to this issue to ensure perspective as a nurse. the proper knowledge and skills of the future nurses. CHALLENGES IN CAMBODIAN Different types of nursing degrees NURSING EDUCATION Cambodia is similar with the other ASEAN countries such as Indonesia and There are some challenges to improve the Lao PDR, which has different types of nursing education in Cambodia, namely: nursing background, such as associate degree in nursing (diploma) and bachelor LaCk of faculty members with higher of sciences in nursing (Aungsuroch & degree Gunawan, 2015). Practically, both levels There are limited faculties who have do not have much difference in clinical obtained master degree or doctoral degree practice. Thus, the job description should in nursing filed. Currently, there is only be further explored and identified. In one PhD in Nursing, Dr. Virya Koy, who addition, nurses who have bachelor level has just graduated from Chulalongkorn should be able to do at least descriptive University Thailand. There are 8 nurses nursing research and use evidence-based who currently holding master degree from practice. However, according to my Thailand, Philippines, and about 2 nurses perspective, diploma nurses may fit with are still undergoing master nursing the current needs of Cambodia to provide program in South Korea. However, not all the basic needs of people in rural area. Belitung Nursing Journal, Volume 4, Issue 6, November - December 2018 620 Ly, C. (2018) Limited of researCh studies in nursing safety and effective health services Bachelor of Sciences in Nursing (BSN) delivery in Cambodia. program has given an opportunity for students to do nursing research as one of Declaration of Conflicting Interest None declared. the requirements for completing the study. However, most of research is using Funding secondary data, instead of conducting This study is supported by Department of Health original research from primary data. As Professions Education, University of Health the results, the research skills of the Sciences, Cambodia graduates are still limited to identify the Author Contribution research needs with appropriate issues in This is the original work of the corresponding Cambodia with appropriate methods. author. Thus, this issue should be more References emphasized for better nursing education, Aungsuroch, Y., & Gunawan, J. (2015). Nurse practices and research. preparation towards ASEAN economic community 2015. International Journal of LaCk of use of teChnology in nursing HealtH Science and Research, 5(3), 365-372. education Cambodian Council of Nurses. (2007). Cambodia nursing history. Retrieved from https://sites. We are now living in the digital era, and it google.com/site/cambodiancouncil/cambodia- is therefore we should be able to utilize it, nursing-history especially in nursing education. However, International Council of Nurses. (2017). there is still lack of ability of faculty Interest in advanced practice nursing in Camb odia. Retrieved from https://international.aanp members to use that technology, and the .org/Content/docs/Cambodia.pdf poor Internet access as well as limited Koy, V. (2016). The lifespan of nursing education in access to database, which is considered as Cambodia. Belitung Nursing Journal, 2(4), the weakness of nursing education today 65-69. in Cambodia. University of Health Science. (2013). Memorandum of understanding between University oF HealtH Sciences, University oF tHe PHilippines, In conclusion, by identifying the and World HealtH Organization. Cambodia: challenges related to nursing education, all University of Health Sciences. nurses in Cambodia are invited to support University of Health Science & National Institute of Public Health. (2016). Student enrollment each other, and analyze the strengths and criteria For bachelor and master degrees. weakness for providing better education in Cambodia: University of Health Science & order to enhance the quality of nurses to National Institute of Public Health. provide better quality of care, patient Cite this article as: Ly, C. (2018). Challenges in nursing education in Cambodia: A perspective from a nurse. Belitung Nursing Journal,4(6), 619-621. https://doi.org/10.33546/bnj.651 Belitung Nursing Journal, Volume 4, Issue 6, November - December 2018 621 .