Nursing Management and Its Contribution to the Ecuadorian Health System
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.70577/0wtsbv79Keywords:
nursing management; health system; primary health care; quality and safety; Ecuador.Abstract
The contribution of nursing management to the Ecuadorian health system was examined through a documentary review aimed at identifying contributions, gaps, and challenges across levels of care. Academic and institutional sources published between 2020 and 2024 were reviewed, prioritizing evidence on leadership, quality of care, primary health care, humanization, occupational well‑being, and responses to health emergencies. Nursing management was found to strengthen primary care through community interventions, health education, and intersectoral coordination in line with Ecuador’s Family-, Community-, and Intercultural‑based Comprehensive Health Care Model. Its influence on patient safety and service quality was also evident via process standardization, monitoring of nursing‑sensitive indicators, and optimization of teamwork.
Regarding workforce issues, the literature reported compromised professional quality of life and work‑related stress, highlighting the need for retention policies, continuing education, and clinical leadership. Evidence from the COVID‑19 pandemic indicated that nursing sustained continuity of care and organizational adaptation, while resource and recognition gaps persisted. Overall, nursing management was concluded to be a strategic axis for transforming Ecuador’s health system, and strengthening regulatory frameworks, managerial competencies, advanced practice, and applied research was recommended.
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Copyright (c) 2026 María Astrid Peláez Abad, Fernando Javier Sánchez Ross, Carlos Geovanny Ruales Pauta, Karen Nanathaly Rojas Ribera, Maritza del Cisne Albito Balcázar (Autor/a)
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