Employability of Nursing and Midwifery Graduates: A descriptive cross-sectional Survey

All graduates in Ghana are finding it increasingly difficult to get employment, to the point where even nurses and midwives are impacted. In order to achieve Universal Health Coverage and the Sustainable Development Goal 3 of fostering excellent health and well-being, nursing and midwifery have a crucial role to play. About 80% of the services in healthcare settings are provided by nurses and midwives, who make up the largest group of healthcare professionals worldwide. Through a tracer study, the employability profile of nursing and midwifery graduates serves as a gauge of responsibility and proof of the value of higher education institutions that provide these programs. The current study, therefore, sought to evaluate the employability of nursing and midwifery graduates of a public tertiary institution in Ghana. A descriptive cross-sectional survey using a modified version of the Tarlac State University Graduates Tracer Questionnaire was used in collecting data from 110 nursing and midwifery graduates. Data obtained through google forms were descriptively analyzed with SPSS version 25 software and presented using frequencies, percentages, averages, standard deviations, and range (minimum-maximum). Personal information was required such as one’s email address, to prevent multiple responses, yet participants’ responses were kept confidential. The mean (SD) age of participants was 31 (5) years and were aged between 22-43 years. The majority were females (n=64, 58.2%), living within Ghana during the period of the study (n=92, 83.8%), and had completed a Bachelor’s degree (n=101, 91.8%). A significant proportion (n=81, 79.4%) of those who were employed during the study period (n=102, 92.7%) worked in the governmental sector. For those who were unemployed, half of them (n=4, 50.0%) attributed it to a lack of vacancies, and another reason was the lack of license to practice. Nursing and midwifery graduates have a high employability rate which is in line with the department’s goal of preparing its graduates with employable skills for improved healthcare delivery. We recommend regular conduction of such studies to monitor graduate employment in the future and to obtain feedback on possible curriculum enhancement programs that could be offered in the department.