The purpose of the study was to explore and describe the lived experiences of neophyte professional nurses working in ICU during their first year post graduation with the aim to discover strategies to support the nurse in critical care unit. An explorative, descriptive, interpretative qualitative design was conducted to uncover the nurse’s experiences. A purposive sampling was used which is based on belief that the researcher’s knowledge about the population can be used to hand pick sample elements. Data was collected through in-depth unstructured interviews and written narratives. Collaizi’s method of data analysis was used. The study findings revealed that neophyte professional nurses experienced difficulties and challenges in adjusting to the unit because of lack of mentors emanating from the shortage of staff. Nurses experienced mixed feelings regarding the relationship with colleagues in terms of support received. / Health Studies / M.A. (Health Studies)

In today’s world healthcare all over the world is profoundly challenged by rapid technological advancements, violence, terrorism, diverse cultures, proliferating chronic diseases, and the worst nursing shortage. In addition to these complex and daunting challenges healthcare continue to focus the attention on hospitals to review and modify the way care is delivered to patients. As key role players and consistent members of the multidisciplinary team critical care nurses are uniquely positioned to modify and review the quality of patient care through synergy between the patients’ needs, the nurses’ competencies, and the critical care environment. A collaborative approach towards enhancing synergy in a CCU was undertaken in a CCU in a private hospital in Gauteng. The study was guided by the American Association for Critical Care Nurses Synergy Model for Patient Care and conducted within the critical social theory paradigm. The nature of the research was descriptive, explorative and contextual and both qualitative and quantitative approaches were used. Action research cycles were followed to assess existing synergy between the patients’ needs, the nurses’ competencies and the characteristics of the environment in the CCU. An action plan was formulated and implemented towards enhancing synergy in the CCU. The implemented plan was adjusted based on observations and reflections following each of the five cycles of the project / Health Studies / D. Litt. et Phil. (Health Studies)

In today’s world healthcare all over the world is profoundly challenged by rapid technological advancements, violence, terrorism, diverse cultures, proliferating chronic diseases, and the worst nursing shortage. In addition to these complex and daunting challenges healthcare continue to focus the attention on hospitals to review and modify the way care is delivered to patients. As key role players and consistent members of the multidisciplinary team critical care nurses are uniquely positioned to modify and review the quality of patient care through synergy between the patients’ needs, the nurses’ competencies, and the critical care environment. A collaborative approach towards enhancing synergy in a CCU was undertaken in a CCU in a private hospital in Gauteng. The study was guided by the American Association for Critical Care Nurses Synergy Model for Patient Care and conducted within the critical social theory paradigm. The nature of the research was descriptive, explorative and contextual and both qualitative and quantitative approaches were used. Action research cycles were followed to assess existing synergy between the patients’ needs, the nurses’ competencies and the characteristics of the environment in the CCU. An action plan was formulated and implemented towards enhancing synergy in the CCU. The implemented plan was adjusted based on observations and reflections following each of the five cycles of the project / Health Studies / D. Litt. et Phil. (Health Studies)

The purpose of the study was to explore and describe the lived experiences of neophyte professional nurses working in ICU during their first year post graduation with the aim to discover strategies to support the nurse in critical care unit. An explorative, descriptive, interpretative qualitative design was conducted to uncover the nurse’s experiences. A purposive sampling was used which is based on belief that the researcher’s knowledge about the population can be used to hand pick sample elements. Data was collected through in-depth unstructured interviews and written narratives. Collaizi’s method of data analysis was used. The study findings revealed that neophyte professional nurses experienced difficulties and challenges in adjusting to the unit because of lack of mentors emanating from the shortage of staff. Nurses experienced mixed feelings regarding the relationship with colleagues in terms of support received. / Health Studies / M.A. (Health Studies)

Thesis (MCurr)--Stellenbosch University, 2012. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Nurse managers are responsible to staff different hospital units and departments with sufficient, trained and experienced personnel. Most critical care units in the private healthcare in South Africa are staffed below maximum workload levels and additional staff is supplemented when needed. Current staffing management strategies comprises the application of the patient acuity score, the utilisation of contracted agency staff and ward staff who assist occasionally in the critical care unit (CCU). The aim of the study was to explore the experiences of critical care nurses regarding staffing management within critical care units in private health care institutions in the Western Cape. The following objectives were set to: - explore the experiences of CCNs regarding staffing management strategies such as o the patient acuity score o the employment of ad hoc agency staff and o the utilization of ward staff A descriptive design with a qualitative approach was applied. A sample size of n=15 was drawn from a total population of N=377, using purposive sampling technique. A pilot-test was also completed. The trustworthiness of this study was assured with the use of Lincoln and Guba’s criteria of credibility, transferability, dependability and confirmability. All ethical principles were met. The findings of the study demonstrated that nurses perceive the workload in critical care units as heavy. The utilisation of the acuity score does not really assist in relieving the workload as managers tend not to consider the staffing requirements as predicted by the acuity score due to budget constraints. The enrolled nurses who assist occasionally in the critical care unit require supervision as well as ongoing development to ensure safe and quality patient care. Yet agency nurses were perceived as either extraordinary good or incompetent. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Verpleegbestuurders het die verantwoordelik om verskillende hospitaaleenhede en departemente met voldoende opgeleide en ervare personeel te voorsien. Die meeste kritieke sorgeenhede in Suid-Afrika word met minder as dan die maksimum werkladingsvlak beman en addisionele personeel word aangevul wanneer nodig. Huidige personeelbestuurstrategieë behels die toepassing van die pasiënt akuïteit telling, die gebruik van ingekontrakteerde agentskap-personeel en saalpersoneel wat per geleentheid in die kritiekesorgeenheid help. Die doel van die studie was om die ervaringe van kritieke-sorgverpleegsters ten opsigte van personeel bestuur binne die kritiekesorgeenhede in die privaat gesondheidsorginstellings in die Weskaap, te ondersoek. Die volgende doelwitte is gestel: - Om die ervaringe van kritieke-sorgverpleegsters aangaande personeelbestuur-strategieë te ondersoek, soos: o die pasiënt akuïteit telling o die gebruik van agentskapverpleegpersoneel en o die gebruik van saal personeel, te ondersoek ’n Beskrywende kwalitatiewe studie is toegepas. ’n Steekproef van n=15 is uit ’n totale populasie van N=377 getrek deur die doelgerigte steekproeftegniek te gebruik. ’n Loodstoetsing van die semi-gestruktureerde vraelys is ook gedoen. Die betroubaarheid van hierdie studie was verseker deur van Lincoln en Guba se kriteria vir geloofwaardigheid, oordraagbaarheid, betroubaarheid en bevestigbaarheid gebruik te maak. Daar is aan alle etiese vereistes voldoen. Die bevindings van die studie toon dat die verpleegpersoneel die werklading in die kritiekesorgeenheid as veeleisend ervaar. Die aanwending van die pasiënt akuïteit-telling dra nie werklik by tot verligting van die werklading nie, aangesien bestuurders weens begrotingsbeperkings neig om nie die personeelbenodigdhede soos deur die akuïteit-telling voorspel in ag neem nie. Die ingeskrewe verpleegsters wat per geleentheid in die kritieke-sorgeenheid hulp verleen, benodig toesig asook volgehoue ontwikkeling ten einde veilige en kwaliteit pasiëntsorg te verseker. Die agentskapverpleegpersoneel is egter as baie bekwaam of onbevoeg beskou.