Text in English / Professional nurses are regarded as the backbone of the health care system and quality patient care is linked to patient safety.The purpose of the study was to describe and explore the perceptions of professional nurses on impact of shortage of resources for quality patient care. The resources include health professionals, equipment and drugs. The study was conducted in Mankweng hospital which is a public hospital in the Capricorn district in Limpopo Province. Qualitative descriptive exploratory design was used which provided the researcher with in-depth information regarding phenomena under study. Data was collected from ten (10) professional nurses who have 5 to 20 years of nursing experience allocated in medical and surgical wards. Unstructured face-to-face interview was conducted using field notes and audio tape. Data was analysed following Creswell (2014) Tesch method. Five themes and eighteen subthemes emerged from data. The findings revealed that the shortage of health professionals and inadequate resources has a negative impact on provision of quality patient care. / Health Studies / M.A. (Health Studies)

The aim of the study was to explore the perceptions of nurses regarding communication with nurse managers in the workplace. The design of the study was a generic qualitative. The methodology of choice was qualitative, explorative method. The sample was non-probability and the approach or technique used was purposive sampling method. It comprised of thirty nurses, ten of each category. The category was a component of professional nurses, enrolled nurses and enrolled nursing auxiliary nurses. The data collection method used in the study was in-depth interviews using a self-designed interview guide. Face to face interviews was conducted in a quiet room within the hospital ward as a natural setting. Data was collected using a voice recorder for the sake of protecting the missing of information which may be important. The data analysis was with the help of employing transcribing and coding of voice recorded data and observation noted during the collection of data. The data collection method used in the study was in-depth interviews using a self-designed interview guide. Face to face interviews was conducted in a quiet room within the hospital ward as a natural setting. Data was collected using a voice recorder for the sake of protecting the missing of information which may be important. The data analysis was with the help of employing transcribing and coding of voice recorded data and observation noted during the collection of data. The findings showed that there were dynamics in communication from all nurse categories and that also indicated that there was a need to conduct a research so that the root cause may be identified and suggestions to be put in place to curb the challenges. In conclusion it showed that communication is the key problem of all and it is a worldwide problem. / Health Studies / M.A. (Health Studies)

Text in English / The purpose of the study was to explore the registered nurse’s perceptions with regard to the use of authority by nurse managers in the workplace. A qualitative approach using phenomenological descriptive design was used. Data was collected by means of audio-taped individual interviews and field notes. The sample included registered nurses aged 25-45 years with more than two years’ experience. Ethical issues were adhered to. The data was analysed using content analysis as proposed by Creswell (2013). Five themes and seventeen subthemes emerged from the data. The findings revealed that the registered nurses were unhappy with the way authority is being used, their non-involvement in decision-making; lack of two way communication between nurses and managers; poor relationship between nurses and health service managers which hindered nurses’ opportunity for growth. Autonomy is a major determinant of nurse job satisfaction, and failure to apply it may lead to high turnover and absenteeism. / Health Studies / M.A. (Health Studies)

MCur / Department of Advanced Nursing Science

The South African government promulgated the Choice on Termination of pregnancy Act (CTOP Act, 92 of 1996). This was a dramatic declaration of intent unprecedented in the African continent and globally. This act changed the outlook of the practice of termination of pregnancy by ensuring that services play a critical role in the delivery of the service. This study, which is qualitative in nature, explored the experiences of Termination of Pregnancy service providers working in three designated public health institutions in the Limpopo Province. Interviews were conducted with six service providers to look at how they construct their practice of providing termination of pregnancy services. The information was analyzed and interpreted by means of a thematic analysis method. Major themes that emerged from the participants’ experiences centred on their relationship with family, colleagues, management, clients, and the community reflecting a sense of alienation and lack of adequate infrastructural support. Inadequate support has been found to greatly contribute to the loss of interest in the work around abortion. / Psychology / M. A. (Clinical Psychology)

The South African government promulgated the Choice on Termination of pregnancy Act (CTOP Act, 92 of 1996). This was a dramatic declaration of intent unprecedented in the African continent and globally. This act changed the outlook of the practice of termination of pregnancy by ensuring that services play a critical role in the delivery of the service. This study, which is qualitative in nature, explored the experiences of Termination of Pregnancy service providers working in three designated public health institutions in the Limpopo Province. Interviews were conducted with six service providers to look at how they construct their practice of providing termination of pregnancy services. The information was analyzed and interpreted by means of a thematic analysis method. Major themes that emerged from the participants’ experiences centred on their relationship with family, colleagues, management, clients, and the community reflecting a sense of alienation and lack of adequate infrastructural support. Inadequate support has been found to greatly contribute to the loss of interest in the work around abortion. / Psychology / M. A. (Clinical Psychology)

The purpose of this study was to describe and compare the perceptions of the registered nurses and the nurse managers regarding the role of the registered nurse in integrated primary health care. Quantitative, descriptive research was conducted to determine if there were any discrepancies between role perceptions and role expectations. Data collection was done using structured questionnaires. Two groups of respondents participated in the study. The registered nurse group (n=40) provided direct clinical care in integrated primary health care settings. The second group was composed of nurse managers (n=20) managing integrated primary health care services. The findings revealed that there are some areas where there is lack of congruence between the perceptions of registered nurses and nurse managers regarding the functions that registered nurses perform. These differences may result in confusion and role conflict among registered nurses, which can ultimately impede the attainment of integrated primary health care goals. / Advanced Nursing Sciences / M.A.(Nursing Science)

Text in English / In Swaziland, family nurse practitioners (FNPs) are professional nurses who have undergone preparation as general nurse, midwife and FNP. These nurses play an important role in the delivery of primary health care (PHC). Family nurse practice is an evolving concept introduced in Swaziland in 1979. It is a means of exploring nursing roles and primary health care services for deployment in under-served areas and to enable nurses to serve as the primary providers of health care services in clinics, health centres and in the outpatient departments of hospitals. Changing responsibilities within the health care setting require different skills and more knowledge. The expansion and extension of the nurses' role, including the techniques of diagnosing and treating, was a priority of the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare (MOH&SW) in Swaziland's five-year development plan for 1978-1983. It was regarded as a necessary component for raising the quality and effectiveness of PHC services. Some of the major and urgent challenges that confront FNPs today are the advent of the human immune virus/acquired immuno-deficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) scourge and the re-emergence of the tuberculosis epidemic. Both these health problems require proficient diagnosis and case management skills as well as new approaches. If FNPs are to remain relevant and to continue to provide quality services in spite of prevailing challenges, they have to engage in continuing education (CE). The main aim of this study was to investigate the perceptions of the FNP role, CE needs and issues relevant to the current practice of FNPs in Swaziland. A further aim was to establish a structure or framework for a CE programme that would contribute to the strengthening of CE for FNPs and identify enabling factors and barriers in the practice and education ofFNPs. Both quantitative and qualitative research methods were used for data collection. A survey was conducted to collect data from 5 7 FNPs and 11 nurse managers and nurse educators. The transcript from the questionnaires was subjected to quantitative-based content analysis. A total of thirty nurse managers, nurse educators and MOH&SW nurse executives participated in the focus group interviews. The collected data was subjected to qualitativebased content analysis. The findings identified the role of the FNP as manager, clinical practitioner, educator and researcher. The analyses highlighted the CE needs of FNPs, and the question of updating and upgrading the skills of practising FNPs. The identified enabling factors and barriers, although perceived as issues that are peripheral and auxiliary to the curriculum, appeared to have a strong bearing on programme planning. The findings from this study have implications for a structured CE programme for FNPs at the University of Swaziland. / Health Studies / D. Litt et Phil. (Nursing Sciences)

The purpose of this study was to investigate the Isoniazid preventive therapy (IPT) initiation amongst eligible HIV positive patients at health facilities in the Polokwane subdistrict to identify key features in the knowledge and practice of health professionals as well as available resources at the health facilities. A quantitative non-experimental, descriptive, cross-sectional design was used to describe the practice of IPT initiation in health facilities. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire with medical doctors, operational managers and registered nurses from the district’s 34 health care facilities. The census sample was 124. Data were captured and analysed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) Version 24. The results showed that the health care professionals knew the policy and procedures for the implementation of IPT but lacked knowledge on patient screening. The findings further suggest that record keeping and data capturing was not implemented sufficiently. Resources at the facilities were found to be sufficient. / Health Studies / M. P. H.

A qualitative, descriptive, exploratory and contextual study was undertaken to explore and describe how clinic nurses practice their role regarding growth development monitoring and anthropometric measurement of children and interpretation of their values. An accessible population of twelve clinic nurses of all categories were purposively recruited to participate in the study. In depth individual interviews were conducted to generate data. Interviews were audio-taped and transcribed by the researcher verbatim. The direct quotes of participants were coded and arranged into meaning units for analysis. Tech’s (1990:142-145) eight steps of analysis to analyse the textual qualitative data as cited by Creswell (2009:186) was used until themes, categories and subcategories were identified and developed. Data analysis was triangulated by using Atlas.ti computer software version 7.0 to organise text, audio data files coding, memos and findings into project files. An independent coder analysed data for validation using content analysis. Data analysis revealed that nurses had challenges in ways of doing practice evidenced by inconsistencies and discrepancies in GDM, APM of children and incorrect interpretation of their values. Non-compliance to protocols from both nurses and parents was a significant finding. Shortage of resources was reported as a major hindrance. Guidelines were formulated to guide clinic nurses. Recommendations were proposed that the matter be taken up by nurse managers, educators and leadership from the Department of Health / Health Studies / D. Litt. et Phil. (Health Studies)