Candidates' and policymakers' perspectives on the needs for a master's program in nursing

Background: Quality and safe care requires nurses with advanced knowledge and skills. Cambodia does not have a graduate-level nursing program; therefore, nurses are required to pursue advanced degrees in other countries. However, a master's degree nursing program is being established in this country. Objectives: To explore the needs of stakeholders in the master's nursing program in Cambodia to establish the curriculum. Design: Students and graduates of Bachelor of Sciences in Nursing were surveyed, and policymakers were interviewed face-to-face. Participants: As candidates for the master's nursing program, 94 undergraduates and 37 graduates participated in the survey, and four policymakers working at the Ministry of Health and Cambodian Council of Nurses were interviewed. Methods: Descriptive statistics and frequency analyses were utilized for quantitative data and qualitative data were thematically analyzed. Results: All 131 undergraduates and graduates were willing to apply to the master's program in nursing mainly to improve their knowledge and skills. They cited financial burden as a challenge for their study. Their educational demands were closely related to Cambodia's social situation and reflected their aspiration for advanced degrees and to become nursing leaders. The policymakers unanimously agreed on the need for the program and suggested policies and strategies to operate the course and recognize the role of graduates with this qualification. They reinforced that the curriculum should be based on the law, regulation, and policy and reflect Cambodia's current situation by identifying the needs of students and hospital officials and investigating available resources. Their perspectives revealed their expectations for graduates to plan healthcare policies and support them as their coworkers. Conclusions: The establishment of nursing master's course should be accompanied by a policy to support nursing students. Nursing educators and experienced senior nurses should be included in this policymaking and they must participate in the development of the curriculum. It is suggested to develop an eclectic master's program in nursing that aggregates all opinions of stakeholders.