Current Status, Challenges, and Future Career Pathways of Diploma-Prepared Nurses from the Stakeholders’ Perspective: A Qualitative Study

Abstract

Abstract Background Researchers have examined the nursing profession in Saudi Arabia and the Kingdom 2030 Vision and highlighted that several issues challenge the nursing profession in Saudi Arabia in terms of nursing shortages, underdeveloped nursing education, and undistinguishable scope of practice. It was highlighted that when viewed within the context of 2030, it is thus clear that there is an urgent demand for policy maker to improve nursing care in Saudi Arabia by attending to the nursing shortage, generating strategies to enhance nursing education, and establishing the scope of practice guidelines. Therefore, retention of diploma-prepared nurses is an urgent matter as well, with the notion of the vast numbers in the nursing workforce. Although the experiences of diploma-prepared nurses have been described in the literature, there is a lack of evidence to support the job career paths for nurses and the retention of diploma nurses in Saudi Arabia. Understanding the current challenges and future trends, and solutions from the stakeholders’ perspective is a critical first step that will retain diploma-prepared nurses in the profession and ultimately lead policymakers to formulate policies to address these issues. Objective to generate an empirically derived substantive framework to overcome challenges and develop tailored career pathways for diploma-prepared Nurses from the stakeholders’ perspective. Methods Thematic analysis qualitative study and grounded theory method will be employed to produce a detailed description and theoretical analysis of the challenges and future of diploma-prepared nurses. Results Several themes emerged, and results generated an empirically derived substantive framework to overcome challenges and develop tailored career pathways for diploma-prepared Nurses from the stakeholders’ perspective. Conclusion The generated framework will indirectly enhance the delivery of quality healthcare, as it will stimulate the development and implementation of career path programs to promote a better quality of healthcare delivery for patients.