Ongoing instability in the nursing workforce is raising questions globally about the issue of nurse turnover. It is against this background that this research examines the impact of learning, advancement and quality of work-life on turnover intentions among nurses in selected hospitals from Eastern Cape. Little research has been conducted to investigate the impact of the above mentioned subjects on turnover intentions among nurses in the South African health sector. Research questions as well as hypotheses were formulated as the means to gain data on the subject. The research employed a quantitative design with a sample size of 160 nurses and 159 were returned. The data analysis consisted of both descriptive and inferential statistics. The main findings of the study showed a positive relationship among job satisfaction, work-life rewards, learning and advancement opportunities and job satisfaction. However, there were negative relationships between job satisfaction and turnover intentions; work-life rewards and turnover intentions; and also among learning, career advancement and turnover intentions. Finally, suggestions were made to the top management in the Health sector to come up with strategies and mechanisms that improve nurses’ quality of work-life and offering them training and advancement opportunities through organisational change programs.

This cross-sectional survey examined the relationship between social interest, as postulated by Alfred Adler, and job satisfaction among full-time employed registered nurses to determine whether social interest was related to work attitude and whether job satisfaction was related to age, level of education, experience, and type of position in nursing.

South Africa has been brain drained of nurses and doctors and the Eastern Cape as a Province within South Africa is not an exception. Its rural nature has caused many nurses and doctors loose interest of serving in its facilities. This study sought to describe factors that can influence retention especially of nurses in the rural health facilities of the Eastern Cape Province and develop recommendations for nurse managers on how to retain nurses in rural areas. The major inferences drawn from this study is that nurses are dissatisfied with lack of promotional opportunities, lack of professional support, facing drastic responsibilities but with less income, tremendous workloads, emotional demands and unrealistic salary package. The researcher believes that the nurse managers have a crucial role to play in ensuring nurse retention and the recommendations drawn from this study can contribute in improving the work environment. / Health Studies / M.A. (Health Studies)

Human resources are the most important assets of any health system. In recent years it has been increasingly recognised that improving the performance of health personnel should be at the core of any sustainable solution to health system performance. However, it is widely acknowledged that health systems are not producing the desired output of health interventions due to factors such as insufficient skilled and experienced health personnel, demotivated health personnel, lack of management skills, poor working conditions and environment, and inadequate remuneration. This study explores the factors that affect performance of nurses in Namibia with the aim of providing a management framework for improving the performance of professional nurses. The study followed a quantitative research approach using an explorative descriptive design. A survey method using questionnaires was applied. The reaction to the study was positive as a response rate of 75.8% was obtained. Data analysis included identifying and comparing existence or absence of factors using the SSPS package. The target population included all professional nurses in Oshana, Otjozondjupa and Khomas regions. Baseline results revealed various factors which affect performance. The study revealed that hospitals currently have deficiencies in human resource management aspects such as recognition of employees who perform well, working conditions, implementation of performance appraisal systems, feedback on performance outcomes and management skills. These aspects are strongly associated with level of performance of health personnel. Based on the results, a management framework was proposed. The framework consists of activities for enhancing the nursing profession; strengthening knowledge and expertise, including management skills; improving performance; and generating knowledge through research. / Health Studies / D. Litt. et Phil.(Health Studies)

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between perceived availability of opportunities for promotion, training, career progression, existing management style and voluntary staff turnover intention among the nurses working in Mengo Hospital. A quantitative, descriptive correlational design was used. Data collection was done using structured questionnaires. Full time staff nurses (N= 235) were surveyed. The findings revealed that all the four variables were significantly and negatively correlated to the intention to leave and predicted 16.8 percent of the variance in intention to leave scores. Management style was the strongest predictor of intent to leave (14.5%). Nurses perceiving their managers as participatory had lower intention to leave. To retain qualified personnel, hospital administrators should focus on participative management style and career development programs that address the needs of the staff and the hospital / Public Health / M.A. (Public Health)

The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore and describe the extent to which registered nurses’ practice was affected by emergency department overcrowding. Participants were recruited from a tertiary hospital by using the purpose sampling method. Data collection was done using a semi-structured interview guide. Individual interviews were conducted with eight registered nurses working in the paediatric emergency department. Data analysis was conducted using thematic content analysis and Yin’s (2003:178) five-phase cycle. The study findings revealed that the lack of professional nurse leadership and the difficult existing relationship with the physicians were obstacles that had to be obviated if the paediatric ED were to function optimally and best practice were to be achieved. It was revealed that a problematic issue in the setting was that the most critical decisions on allocating where patients should be treated were made by physicians who have more authority than nurses. It was recommended that the ED need to be clearly defined in the policies as an outpatient, emergency care or as an episodic patient care area as “Admission” can mean admission to the ED or admission as an inpatient/boarded patient. / Health Studies / M.A. (Health Studies)

The objectives of the study were to: 1) determine how the variables of occupational stress, job satisfaction, work engagement and social support conceptualised in literature, 2) describe the levels of occupational stress, job satisfaction, work engagement and social support, 3) determine the relationship between occupational stress, job satisfaction, work engagement and social support, 4) assess the predictive value of occupational stress on job satisfaction and work engagement, 5) determine the mediating role of social support on the effects of occupational stress on job satisfaction and work engagement. The research questions following on from the objectives were as follows: 1) how are the variables of occupational stress, job satisfaction, work engagement and social support conceptualised in literature? 2) what are the levels of occupational stress, job satisfaction, work engagement and social support among nurses? 3) what is the relationship between occupational stress, job satisfaction, work engagement and social support among nurses? 4) what is the predictive value of occupational stress on job satisfaction and work engagement among nurses? 5) what is the mediating role of social support on the effects of occupational stress on job satisfaction and work engagement among nurses? In order to answer the research objectives, this study used a cross sectional design. The present research study used a quantitative approach. The convenience sampling method was used for the purposes of data collection. Data was gathered from the wards of a public hospital in Durban. A sample of 120 voluntary participants was obtained, comprising of 109 females and 11 males. Data was collected using survey questionnaires which included the following five parts: 1) Biographical Information Questionnaire, 2) the Nursing Stress Indicator, 3) the Minnesota Satisfaction Questionnaire, 4) the Utrecht Work Engagement Scale, 5) and the Social Support Questionnaire. All data were analysed using SPSS version 19.0 for Windows. The results of the study showed that the nurses experienced high levels of occupational stress, low levels of job satisfaction and work engagement; and moderate levels of social support. There was a significant relationship between occupational stress, job satisfaction, work engagement and social support among the nurses. The results showed that occupational stress predicts the levels of job satisfaction and work engagement. The results also showed that social support mediates the effect of occupational stress on job satisfaction and work engagement. Recommendations and the value added by the study was also stated. The limitations of this study were also noted. / Thesis (M.Soc.Sc.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2012.

Human resources are the most important assets of any health system. In recent years it has been increasingly recognised that improving the performance of health personnel should be at the core of any sustainable solution to health system performance. However, it is widely acknowledged that health systems are not producing the desired output of health interventions due to factors such as insufficient skilled and experienced health personnel, demotivated health personnel, lack of management skills, poor working conditions and environment, and inadequate remuneration. This study explores the factors that affect performance of nurses in Namibia with the aim of providing a management framework for improving the performance of professional nurses. The study followed a quantitative research approach using an explorative descriptive design. A survey method using questionnaires was applied. The reaction to the study was positive as a response rate of 75.8% was obtained. Data analysis included identifying and comparing existence or absence of factors using the SSPS package. The target population included all professional nurses in Oshana, Otjozondjupa and Khomas regions. Baseline results revealed various factors which affect performance. The study revealed that hospitals currently have deficiencies in human resource management aspects such as recognition of employees who perform well, working conditions, implementation of performance appraisal systems, feedback on performance outcomes and management skills. These aspects are strongly associated with level of performance of health personnel. Based on the results, a management framework was proposed. The framework consists of activities for enhancing the nursing profession; strengthening knowledge and expertise, including management skills; improving performance; and generating knowledge through research. / Health Studies / D. Litt. et Phil.(Health Studies)

The aim o f this study was to determine the key factors within the roles and functions of professional nurses working in different nursing units with the purpose for motivation for their compensation in accordance with their performance. A comparative, descriptive design was employed. Findings reveal that the professional nurse’s roles and functions in the different units show that there are some significant differences regarding certain activities while differences pertaining to other activities were not significant. However, there were factors which were subjected to a number o f limitations during the study. Apart from the significant differences, it thus appears as if the roles and functions required o f professional nurses working in the three disciplines do not vary much in content and intensity. From the findings o f this study, it therefore, does not appear as if paediatric professional nurses have a valid reason for expecting additional monetary rewards in view o f their roles and functions. / Health Studies / M.A. (Health Studies)

South Africa has been brain drained of nurses and doctors and the Eastern Cape as a Province within South Africa is not an exception. Its rural nature has caused many nurses and doctors loose interest of serving in its facilities. This study sought to describe factors that can influence retention especially of nurses in the rural health facilities of the Eastern Cape Province and develop recommendations for nurse managers on how to retain nurses in rural areas. The major inferences drawn from this study is that nurses are dissatisfied with lack of promotional opportunities, lack of professional support, facing drastic responsibilities but with less income, tremendous workloads, emotional demands and unrealistic salary package. The researcher believes that the nurse managers have a crucial role to play in ensuring nurse retention and the recommendations drawn from this study can contribute in improving the work environment. / Health Studies / M.A. (Health Studies)