Use of instant messaging to enhance leadership and management training for rural nurse managers
Intended for healthcare professionals
Evidence and practice    

Use of instant messaging to enhance leadership and management training for rural nurse managers

Marjorie Kabinga-Makukula Lecturer, University of Zambia, Lusaka, Zambia
Kestone Lyambai Lecturer, University of Zambia, Lusaka, Zambia
Ruth Wahila Lecturer, University of Zambia, Lusaka, Zambia
Lonia Mwape Lecturer, University of Zambia, Lusaka, Zambia

This article describes a study that explored the use of instant messaging in continuing education for nurses and midwives using a leadership and management programme designed for rural nurse managers in Zambia. Twenty trainees who were enrolled in a leadership and management course, five supervisors and six course facilitators participated in the discussions over a period of nine months. Each week, a supervisor posted a question to participants regarding content in the curriculum and how the participants were applying this to their daily work. Participants were required to answer the question within a week. Information was free-flowing and participants were encouraged to engage actively, ask questions and share their experiences. Conversations were extracted from mobile devices and data were analysed using thematic analysis. Themes from the messages were identified as social interaction, professional networking and educational interactions.

The findings demonstrate that instant messaging can be a useful platform for learners and their facilitators in a blended type of learning and can enhance communication, promote social interaction and professional networking, and support the application of knowledge to practice.

Nursing Management. doi: 10.7748/nm.2019.e1834

Peer review

This article has been subject to external double-blind peer review and has been checked for plagiarism using automated software

Correspondence

kestone.lyambai@unza.zm

Conflict of interest

None declared

Kabinga-Makukula M, Lyambai K, Wahila R et al (2019) Use of instant messaging to enhance leadership and management training for rural nurse managers. Nursing Management. doi: 10.7748/nm.2019.e1834

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank the University of Zambia and IntraHealth International, who provided leadership and management training for the nurses and midwives, and all the nurses and midwives who participated in the WhatsApp group

Published online: 15 October 2019

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