Globally, student absenteeism is seen as a period of time when students do not attend classes. This is a serious concern for lecturers at institutions of higher learning (Lipscomb & Snelling, 2010:573). In South Africa, student absenteeism is rampant amongst university and college students (Wadesango & Machingambi, 2011:89), and it is also a problem in the Limpopo Province (Ramodike, 2008:2). The objectives of this study were to explore and describe the reasons for nursing students to be absent from class in a college of nursing in the Limpopo Province, and to formulate strategies to reduce student absenteeism in a college of nursing in the Limpopo Province. The research design in this study was quantitative, descriptive, exploratory and cross sectional in nature. The sample included nursing students, from level I to level IV of their studies (n=209), registered at a college of nursing in the Limpopo Province. The data was collected using the Factors influencing Absenteeism Questionnaire (FIAQ) (Fayombo, 2012). EpiData and SPSS statistical programmes were used to analyse the data. The results of the study showed that nursing students absent themselves from class due to aspects of student-centred factors, for instance when they want to prepare for examination (53.1%; n=111); and home-related factors, most nursing students reported that they are absent from class when there is death of a family member (63.2%; n=132). Regarding school-related factors, most nursing students indicated that poor infrastructural facilities in school provide reasons for students’ absenteeism (39.2%; n=82). However, the results revealed that there is no relation between social factors and students’ absenteeism, as most of the respondents (48.3%; n=100) disagreed that the unavailability of entertainment like malls or movies around the campus is a cause of student absenteeism. With regard to measures to reduce students’ absenteeism, most of the respondents (73.7%, n=154) indicated that they need a prize giving ceremony for students that are never absent from class. A further 54.1% (n=113) reported that they want a motivating program that will emphasise the benefits of attending classes, and 47.8% (n=100) indicated that they need a program that teaches friendly and mutual lecturer-student relationships. Recommendations for nursing education, practice, future research and a policy were made. / MCur, North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2015

Globally, student absenteeism is seen as a period of time when students do not attend classes. This is a serious concern for lecturers at institutions of higher learning (Lipscomb & Snelling, 2010:573). In South Africa, student absenteeism is rampant amongst university and college students (Wadesango & Machingambi, 2011:89), and it is also a problem in the Limpopo Province (Ramodike, 2008:2). The objectives of this study were to explore and describe the reasons for nursing students to be absent from class in a college of nursing in the Limpopo Province, and to formulate strategies to reduce student absenteeism in a college of nursing in the Limpopo Province. The research design in this study was quantitative, descriptive, exploratory and cross sectional in nature. The sample included nursing students, from level I to level IV of their studies (n=209), registered at a college of nursing in the Limpopo Province. The data was collected using the Factors influencing Absenteeism Questionnaire (FIAQ) (Fayombo, 2012). EpiData and SPSS statistical programmes were used to analyse the data. The results of the study showed that nursing students absent themselves from class due to aspects of student-centred factors, for instance when they want to prepare for examination (53.1%; n=111); and home-related factors, most nursing students reported that they are absent from class when there is death of a family member (63.2%; n=132). Regarding school-related factors, most nursing students indicated that poor infrastructural facilities in school provide reasons for students’ absenteeism (39.2%; n=82). However, the results revealed that there is no relation between social factors and students’ absenteeism, as most of the respondents (48.3%; n=100) disagreed that the unavailability of entertainment like malls or movies around the campus is a cause of student absenteeism. With regard to measures to reduce students’ absenteeism, most of the respondents (73.7%, n=154) indicated that they need a prize giving ceremony for students that are never absent from class. A further 54.1% (n=113) reported that they want a motivating program that will emphasise the benefits of attending classes, and 47.8% (n=100) indicated that they need a program that teaches friendly and mutual lecturer-student relationships. Recommendations for nursing education, practice, future research and a policy were made. / MCur, North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2015

Text in Afrikaans, abstract in Afrikaans and English / Die doel van hierdie navorsing was om te bepaal of betekenisvolle verskille bestaan tussen werknemerdoeltreffendheid en persepsies van gehalte van werklewe van bemagtigde en niebemagtigde skofwerkers in die Suid-Afrikaanse petrochemiese bedryf. Skofwerknavorsing het gedurende die afgelope dekade internasionaal toegeneem. Hiermee gepaardgaande het verskeie intervensies ontstaan om die doeltreffendheid van skofwerkers en hulle gehalte van werklewe te bevorder. Deur gebruik te maak van 'n gekombineerde vraelys ("Standard Shiftwork Index") en werklike data ten opsigte van afwesigheid en prestasiebeoordelings, is 'n steekproef van 102 gevalle geanaliseer. 'n 90 persent betroubaarheidinterval is gebruik om waardes ten opsigte van elke veranderlike te bepaal. Daar is bevind dat werknemerbemagtiging weinig invloed het op skofwerkers se werkbywoning. Daar is ook gevind dat werknemerbemagtiging nie lei tot 'n meer positiewe persepsie, by toesighouers, van skofwerkwerkers se algemene werkprestasie nie. Daar is egter bevind dat skofwerkers se persepsies van hulle gehalte van werklewe, ten opsigte van werkdissatisfaksie, chroniese vermoeidheid en tevredenheid met sosiale omstandighede, wel positiefbelnvloed word deur werknemerbemagtiging. Aanbevelings is gemaak ten opsigte van die aanwending van werknemerbemagtiging, as intervensie in skofwerkomgewings, asook vir verdere skofwerknavorsing in Suid-Afrika. / The purpose of this research was to determine if significant differences exist between employee effectiveness and perceptions of quality of working life of empowered and non-empowered shiftworkers in the South-African petrochemical industry. By using the Standard Shiftwork Index and real absenteeism and appraisal data, a sample of 102 cases was analysed. A 90 percent confidence interval was used to determine t-values for variables. It was found that empowerment has little influence on the work attendance of shiftworkers and that empowerment does not lead to more positive perceptions of general work performance of shiftworkers, among their supervisors. It was, however, found that shiftworkers' perceptions of their quality of working life are improved by empowerment in respect of work dissatisfaction, chronic fatigue and satisfaction with social circumstances. Suggestions were made concerning the use of empowerment, as an intervention, in shiftwork environments and for future shiftwork research in South-Africa. / Industrial & Organisational Psychology / M.Comm. (Bedryfsielkunde)

Text in Afrikaans, abstract in Afrikaans and English / Die doel van hierdie navorsing was om te bepaal of betekenisvolle verskille bestaan tussen werknemerdoeltreffendheid en persepsies van gehalte van werklewe van bemagtigde en niebemagtigde skofwerkers in die Suid-Afrikaanse petrochemiese bedryf. Skofwerknavorsing het gedurende die afgelope dekade internasionaal toegeneem. Hiermee gepaardgaande het verskeie intervensies ontstaan om die doeltreffendheid van skofwerkers en hulle gehalte van werklewe te bevorder. Deur gebruik te maak van 'n gekombineerde vraelys ("Standard Shiftwork Index") en werklike data ten opsigte van afwesigheid en prestasiebeoordelings, is 'n steekproef van 102 gevalle geanaliseer. 'n 90 persent betroubaarheidinterval is gebruik om waardes ten opsigte van elke veranderlike te bepaal. Daar is bevind dat werknemerbemagtiging weinig invloed het op skofwerkers se werkbywoning. Daar is ook gevind dat werknemerbemagtiging nie lei tot 'n meer positiewe persepsie, by toesighouers, van skofwerkwerkers se algemene werkprestasie nie. Daar is egter bevind dat skofwerkers se persepsies van hulle gehalte van werklewe, ten opsigte van werkdissatisfaksie, chroniese vermoeidheid en tevredenheid met sosiale omstandighede, wel positiefbelnvloed word deur werknemerbemagtiging. Aanbevelings is gemaak ten opsigte van die aanwending van werknemerbemagtiging, as intervensie in skofwerkomgewings, asook vir verdere skofwerknavorsing in Suid-Afrika. / The purpose of this research was to determine if significant differences exist between employee effectiveness and perceptions of quality of working life of empowered and non-empowered shiftworkers in the South-African petrochemical industry. By using the Standard Shiftwork Index and real absenteeism and appraisal data, a sample of 102 cases was analysed. A 90 percent confidence interval was used to determine t-values for variables. It was found that empowerment has little influence on the work attendance of shiftworkers and that empowerment does not lead to more positive perceptions of general work performance of shiftworkers, among their supervisors. It was, however, found that shiftworkers' perceptions of their quality of working life are improved by empowerment in respect of work dissatisfaction, chronic fatigue and satisfaction with social circumstances. Suggestions were made concerning the use of empowerment, as an intervention, in shiftwork environments and for future shiftwork research in South-Africa. / Industrial and Organisational Psychology / M.Comm. (Bedryfsielkunde)