South African nurses are emigrating for greater prospects abroad – a weakening of the healthcare system. Nurses play a critical role in health care globally as well as in South Africa. Work engagement or lack thereof may be the reason why so many nurses decide to emigrate. This study aimed to get a better understanding of whether nurses working more specifically with mentally and physically challenged ‘children’ experience work engagement. The focus will be on the resources and demands that nurse’s face in their work environment and whether these contribute to feelings of work engagement. A qualitative research design was used to collect data in this study. The study took the form of a cross sectional survey design with a sample of 8 nurses from a home for physically and mentally challenged individual’s in the Durban, KwaZulu-Natal region. The data was collected with the use of a biographical questionnaire and an interview schedule. The resulting data was analysed using thematic content analysis with the aid of NVIVO 9. The study found that the nurse’s do experience work engagement despite the circumstances they are exposed to. The study also found the resources the nurses were presented with aided in them experiencing work engagement. A love for their job contributed to feelings of work engagement. / Thesis (M.A.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2012.

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.