TITLE:
Perceptions of Heads’ Nursing Department (HND) on Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices (KAP) in Nursing Care and Its Influence on the Quality of Care in Senegalese Hospitals: A Qualitative Study in 2025
AUTHORS:
Mamadou Seck, Lebem Togtoga, Fatoumata Bâ, Bruno Pilote
KEYWORDS:
Nursing Approach, Nursing Department Heads, Nursing Leadership, Nursing Practices, Senegal
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Nursing,
Vol.15 No.12,
December
29,
2025
ABSTRACT: Introduction: The nursing process (NP) is a methodological approach for formulating clinical nursing reasoning that ensures continuity, quality, and traceability of care. The management and clinical supervision of clinical quality within a hospital are mainly carried out by the heads of nursing department (HND). However, the NP for healthcare continues to be adopted unevenly in Senegalese healthcare facilities. Objective: To examine the perceptions, attitudes, and practices of HND toward NP, as well as organizational barriers and opportunities for improvement in hospitals in northern Senegal. Methods: Exploratory qualitative study conducted among HND in eight regional hospitals. A semi-structured interview guide was used to conduct the study and purposive sampling was using. Inductive thematic analysis, inspired by Braun & Clarke, was used to identify the main emerging themes. Results: Six major themes emerged: (1) contrasting levels of knowledge of the NP; (2) generally favorable but sometimes vague attitudes; (3) partial and irregular implementation, often dependent on human resources; (4) numerous structural barriers related to lack of training, supervision, tools, and staff; (5) recommendations focused on continuing education, institutional strengthening, tools, and supervision; (6) a positive perception of the impact of NP on quality of care and clinical outcomes. Conclusion: The adoption of NP by HND is influenced by a combination of knowledge, clinical leadership, and organizational context. Training, resource strengthening, and structuring practices appear to be key elements for sustainable implementation.