Community needs toward nursing institutions for developing the potential of healthcare

Abstract

This research applied a qualitative research method that aimed to explore the needs of communities towards nursing institutions for developing health care potential. This study was conducted on the community and social networks for the academic services of Boromarajonani College of Nursing, Chiang Mai. A purposive sample method was used to select the participants. The participants included 17 people who are administrators or representatives of educational institutions, health service representative, executives of local government organizations and representatives of the people's sector. Data were collected by in-depth interviews, and inductive content analysis was also conducted. The results of the study can be explained in one theme, which is participatory academic support. This theme consists of two categories including: 1) Management to gain knowledge from outsiders and 2) Construction of professional and academic knowledge. The first category also consists of two sub-categories: 1.1) Promoting the emergence of new knowledge and 1.2) Updating knowledge to increase the level of expertise, while the second category consists of two sub-categories as following: 2.1) Sharing knowledge with the networks and 2.2) Learning together through research processes. The results of this study could be applied for the planning of academic service collaboration among the network partners of communities, institutions, and nursing institutions in response to community needs in order to develop the health care potential among the network partners which Boromarajonani College of Nursing, Chiang Mai has provided academic services. This may build up the satisfaction of the networks, develop the sustainability of the communities, and establish further benefits regarding healthcare for the community and society.