When people hear the word "nurse," they often think of qualities such as compassion and patience. While these are essential characteristics, nurses must go even further when striving for professionalism. Nurses also need strong morals and ethics and the commitment to always act in the best interests of their patients. The term professionalism embraces a set of attitudes, skills and behaviours, attributes and values which are expected from those to whom society has extended the privilege of being considered a professional. The core values of professionalism include: honesty, integrity, altruism, respect, responsibility, accountability, compassion, empathy, dedication, self-improvement, competency of clinical skills and knowledge. Professional nursing practice is a commitment to compassion, caring and strong ethical values, continuous development of self and others, accountability and responsibility for insightful practice, demonstrating a spirit of collaboration and flexibility. Rapid changes in the nursing sector have recently occurred across all areas and settings, making for a chaotic and seldom unstable work environment. All of these changes have impacted the ability of ENA learners to maintain high levels of professionalism and collaboration. In particular, the researcher, as an educator within a private NEI responsible for teaching ENA learners, experienced a lack of professionalism amongst ENA learners during the course of their training, as well as after their enrolment with the South African Nursing Council (SANC). Currently, there seems to be a difference between the professionalism portrayed by ENA learners and that which is expected of them. The overall aim of this research is to enhance the professionalism of ENA learners in a private NEI in Potchefstroom, North West. The following objectives have been identified in order to reach this aim: * To explore and describe professionalism amongst ENA learners in a private NEI in Potchefstroom, North West, and * To formulate recommendations to advance professionalism amongst ENA learners in a private NEI in Potchefstroom, North West. This study was conducted by means of a case study approach as the selected topic focuses only on a private nursing education institution situated in Potchefstroom, North West. From the qualitative instrumental case study approach, a qualitative, explorative, contextual research design was followed. The population in the study was all the ENA learners of a private NEI in Potchefstroom, North West. A sample was selected through non-probable, purposive sampling according to inclusion criteria (n=25). Data collection was conducted by means of a ―World Café‖ method and a focus group. The data collected through the World Café method was recorded and transcribed and reconstructed by means of thematic analysis. The main theme that crystallised from data analysis was that ENA learners viewed professionalism as a set of behaviours that are displayed in their external environment. The behaviours are grouped into the following five subgroups, namely punctuality versus absenteeism, adhering to scheduling and duty hours, responsibility of observations and awareness, the role of dress code and the image of nursing and finally obedience to organisational rules and regulations and tolerance towards others. The World Café and focus group results were integrated with case records according to repetitive themes. From the results and conclusions, recommendations were formulated for nursing practice, nursing education and nursing research to enhance professionalism amongst ENA learners in general. / MCur, North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2014

When people hear the word "nurse," they often think of qualities such as compassion and patience. While these are essential characteristics, nurses must go even further when striving for professionalism. Nurses also need strong morals and ethics and the commitment to always act in the best interests of their patients. The term professionalism embraces a set of attitudes, skills and behaviours, attributes and values which are expected from those to whom society has extended the privilege of being considered a professional. The core values of professionalism include: honesty, integrity, altruism, respect, responsibility, accountability, compassion, empathy, dedication, self-improvement, competency of clinical skills and knowledge. Professional nursing practice is a commitment to compassion, caring and strong ethical values, continuous development of self and others, accountability and responsibility for insightful practice, demonstrating a spirit of collaboration and flexibility. Rapid changes in the nursing sector have recently occurred across all areas and settings, making for a chaotic and seldom unstable work environment. All of these changes have impacted the ability of ENA learners to maintain high levels of professionalism and collaboration. In particular, the researcher, as an educator within a private NEI responsible for teaching ENA learners, experienced a lack of professionalism amongst ENA learners during the course of their training, as well as after their enrolment with the South African Nursing Council (SANC). Currently, there seems to be a difference between the professionalism portrayed by ENA learners and that which is expected of them. The overall aim of this research is to enhance the professionalism of ENA learners in a private NEI in Potchefstroom, North West. The following objectives have been identified in order to reach this aim: * To explore and describe professionalism amongst ENA learners in a private NEI in Potchefstroom, North West, and * To formulate recommendations to advance professionalism amongst ENA learners in a private NEI in Potchefstroom, North West. This study was conducted by means of a case study approach as the selected topic focuses only on a private nursing education institution situated in Potchefstroom, North West. From the qualitative instrumental case study approach, a qualitative, explorative, contextual research design was followed. The population in the study was all the ENA learners of a private NEI in Potchefstroom, North West. A sample was selected through non-probable, purposive sampling according to inclusion criteria (n=25). Data collection was conducted by means of a ―World Café‖ method and a focus group. The data collected through the World Café method was recorded and transcribed and reconstructed by means of thematic analysis. The main theme that crystallised from data analysis was that ENA learners viewed professionalism as a set of behaviours that are displayed in their external environment. The behaviours are grouped into the following five subgroups, namely punctuality versus absenteeism, adhering to scheduling and duty hours, responsibility of observations and awareness, the role of dress code and the image of nursing and finally obedience to organisational rules and regulations and tolerance towards others. The World Café and focus group results were integrated with case records according to repetitive themes. From the results and conclusions, recommendations were formulated for nursing practice, nursing education and nursing research to enhance professionalism amongst ENA learners in general. / MCur, North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2014

The purpose of this study was to determine the contribution of nursing auxiliaries towards health care services against their scope of practice. Nursing auxiliaries practising within the Elim, Letaba, Malamulele, Nkhensani, Shiluvana and Tintswalo hospitals in the Gazankulu Health Administration, in the Northern Transvaal Province, constituted the target population. The findings revealed that nursing auxiliaries are not functioning strictly according to their scope of practice. They are an essential component of nursing services in Gazankulu by rendering a major contribution towards health care services in fulfilling their scope of practice-role. Apart from their prescribed practice-role, they are also engaged in activities that should be performed by enrolled and professional nurses as well as doctors and general assistants. There appears to be a need for education for all categories of nursing staff regarding the scope of practice of nursing auxiliaries for improving the effective utilisation of this category of nursing personnel / M.A. (Nursing Science) / Health Studies

The purpose of this study was to determine the contribution of nursing auxiliaries towards health care services against their scope of practice. Nursing auxiliaries practising within the Elim, Letaba, Malamulele, Nkhensani, Shiluvana and Tintswalo hospitals in the Gazankulu Health Administration, in the Northern Transvaal Province, constituted the target population. The findings revealed that nursing auxiliaries are not functioning strictly according to their scope of practice. They are an essential component of nursing services in Gazankulu by rendering a major contribution towards health care services in fulfilling their scope of practice-role. Apart from their prescribed practice-role, they are also engaged in activities that should be performed by enrolled and professional nurses as well as doctors and general assistants. There appears to be a need for education for all categories of nursing staff regarding the scope of practice of nursing auxiliaries for improving the effective utilisation of this category of nursing personnel / M.A. (Nursing Science) / Health Studies