Empowering Nursing through SDG 4: Call for Quality Education

Empowering Nursing

Education is our passport to the future, for tomorrow belongs only to the people who prepare for it today (Meclom X) .Empowering nursing education through Sustainable Development Goal 4 focuses on ensuring inclusive and inequitable quality education for all. Quality education leads to a productive and resilient society that ultimately nurtures individuals with employability and stress free environment (Chukwu, 2023). In context to the nursing , this SDG has renewed urgency in light of global health challenges that are rapid technological advancements.

Nurses as front-line healthcare providers require to empower nursing through rigorous continuous quality education to cope with demanding health care. Yet biased approach to the education particularly in low income countries like Pakistan plays vital role in hindering for professional growth of nurses. Looking into this, it is mandatory to provide quality education to the nurses for better outcomes in the filed of health care. For this purpose, new frameworks have been established to even add up in the curricula for baccalaureate prepared nurses(Baker et al., 2021).

The healthcare system needs more than just text books. Recent advancements in the empowering nursing education system, such as AI-driven analytics, simulation-based practices, digital learning platforms, play an indispensable role in advancing the practicalities in the field and clinical decision making. Incorporating quality improvement theories and tools in the practice help in bridging the theory and practice gap for nurses who return to the practice after education and their multiple transition roles even in leadership roles (Boakye et al., 2024).

For achieving all this, it is foremost to have access to the facilities equally for all, so the goal of “health for all” to be achieved. For getting nurses understanding all the sustainable developmental goals introduced by UNICEF, it is essential to integrate SDG 4 quality education for nurses (Fields et al., 2022).

As a nurse from Punjab, I have always known the value of empowering nursing, compassion, discipline, and service. However, in Empowering Nursing, one thing that I found missing in my early nursing career was access to quality education that integrated both theoretical knowledge and real world application. I faced limitations in resources, ,mentorship and exposure to global standards in healthcare. All that changed when I joined Aga Khan University Karachi (Sindh) Pakistan for maters of nursing (MScN).

Empowering Nursing is a symbol of excellence in Pakistan, aligned withSDG4 (quality education) that promote life long learning opportunities for all. From the very first day, I found myself immersed in learning environment, where knowledge is not memorized but explored, questioned and applied. I found this educational castle as a bridge to overcome the lacks that nursing students usually face just because of limited access to quality education.

In Aga Khan University Karachi Pakistan, nursing students undergo training with integrated simulation based modules to Empower Nursing that are not only technical drills but are built in real world scenarios for critical thinking and ethical decision making, and community out reach programs to have exposure to health disparities that effect the vulnerable groups of communities.

All the courses are designed in a way with complete incorporation of subject matter with practical implications.I have benefited from the courses of quality improvement projects that opened my eyes regarding systemic changes needed in our healthcare settings. In addition, the university invest for student’s learning a lot. A better approach to all national and international journals and books make them understand the world in very competitive perspective. As a result nursing graduates including me from this institute report higher levels of confidence and job satisfaction contributing to improved patient care.

My journey from Punjab to AKU reaffirms my faith that education can Empowering Nursing and change everything in a better way. Aligning with SDG4 , AKU is not only producing competent nurses but also nurturing future leaders who really can bring the change up-to the policy-making level,. I am a proud AKU student and I wish from nurses from underrated areas comee here and find their way to excellence. When the nurses are educated and empowered they do not heal themselves but they heal the societies and communities as well.

Genuinely, If we want to empower nursing and build a resilient society and equitable health system, skate holders should also consider the matter investing in educational infrastructure and faculty developments and policy making for better health reforms. With the alignment of SDG 4 and nursing, we do not only work for health reforms, we infact build individual’s personality and shaping a healthier and more sustainable communities to live in.

Let,s not make it only a gaol, make it a global movement.

References

Baker, C., Cary, A. H., & da Conceicao Bento, M. (2021). Global standards for professional nursing education: The time is now. Journal of Professional Nursing, 37(1), 86-92. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.profnurs.2020.10.001

Boakye, D. S., Kwashie, A. A., Adjorlolo, S., & Korsah, K. A. (2024). Nursing Education for Sustainable Development: A Concept Analysis. Nurs Open, 11(10), e70058. https://doi.org/10.1002/nop2.70058

Chukwu, C. C. (2023). Education No Longer at Ease. The Necessity to Build a New Employable and Productive Society for Nigerian Youths through Quality Education. International Journal of Education and Evaluation (IJEE), 9(6), 2489-0073.

Fields, L., Dean, B. A., Perkiss, S., & Moroney, T. (2022). Education on the Sustainable Development Goals for nursing students: Is Freire the answer? Nurs Inq, 29(4), e12493. https://doi.org/10.1111/nin.12493