Incidence of injury is currently the third leading cause of death in the Czech Republic. A good link between pre-hospital emergency care and hospital care becomes a priority. Nurses play an important role during an acute admission of patients with trauma to in-hospital care, they are the connecting link of all members of the multidisciplinary team, whose common mission is the patient and saturation of his /her needs. With the changing role of nurses in the modern concept of nursing, nurses become equal partners of physicians and other health care professionals. To be accepted by other members of the team and to be able to work with the full extent of her sphere of action in the acute phase of a trauma patient admission, she has to know perfectly her competencies under the applicable legislation. In the theoretical part the roles and responsibilities of nurses under the applicable legislation are defined. There are also chapters dealing with individual injuries and the organization of care for patients with trauma. In the final section of the theoretical part there is a chapter dealing with the holistic care for patients, including ethical care issues, the role of a patient and the importance of cooperation with the family of the trauma patient who is acutely admitted into the hospital. In the empirical part of the thesis three objectives were stated. To determine the cooperation of nurses with other members of the multidisciplinary team, as well as to find out whether the nurses involved in the admission of a trauma patient into hospital know their own competencies under the Decree No. 424/2004 Coll. The third objective was to determine how trauma patients perceive the process of admission to the hospital. Based on these objectives two hypotheses and two research questions were established. The objectives were successfully met, both hypotheses were confirmed and the questions answered. The research was conducted on the basis of a quantitative qualitative survey at departments of selected hospitals where the patients with acute trauma emergency were directed by emergency medical services. For the quantitative research the interviewing method using questionnaires was selected. Interviews with patients were conducted by the qualitative research method. The respondents were 117 nurses and 5 patients.

The study attempted to identify R425 diplomates' perceptions of their psychiatric competencies. An exploratory descriptive survey investigated specific strengths and weaknesses of the R425 diplomates in the psychiatric clinical units in the KwaZulu-Natal Province, as perceived by the diplomates themselves. The diplomates were reportedly competent in performing numerous, but not all cognitive, psychomotor and affective skills addressed by this survey. The R425 diplomates perceived themselves to be incompetent in designing and implementating rehabilitation programmes/workshops, managing community projects, conducting research and managing crises in psychiatric nursing units. / Health Sciences / M.A. (Health Studies)

The study attempted to identify R425 diplomates' perceptions of their psychiatric competencies. An exploratory descriptive survey investigated specific strengths and weaknesses of the R425 diplomates in the psychiatric clinical units in the KwaZulu-Natal Province, as perceived by the diplomates themselves. The diplomates were reportedly competent in performing numerous, but not all cognitive, psychomotor and affective skills addressed by this survey. The R425 diplomates perceived themselves to be incompetent in designing and implementating rehabilitation programmes/workshops, managing community projects, conducting research and managing crises in psychiatric nursing units. / Health Sciences / 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)