M.Cur. (Community Nursing) / The emphasis has moved from curative to services in South Africa, therefore the assurance mechanisms is now essential primary health care establishing of quality with the announcement of the devolution of primary health care services to the local authority, by the Minister of Health in 1991, the role fulfillment and accountability of the community health nurse becomes much more complex and greater demands are continuously made. The need for standards in child health nursing in a local authority led to this study. Relevant literature was explored in respect of the main variables and concepts of the child health nursing practice, whereby theoretical validity is confirmed for the formulation of the nursing standards in this respect. Nursing standards for child health nursing as rendered by the community health nurse in the local authorities on the Witwatersrand, were formulated. These standards were validated by a representative group of experts on regional level. The validation process consisted of a two-stage research technique. The statistical validity was calculated by means of a content validity index for each standard. All the standards (N=86) were considered valid, but sixteen (19%) require reformulation standards form the basis of the quality assurance process. These should equip the community health nurse with valuable guidelines to promote quality nursing care in respect of child health in the local authority. It is recommended that these standards should serve as optimum standards for the community health nurse concerned with child health nursing in the local authority.

M.Cur. / The occupational health nurse working degree of decision-making authority. deficiencies with regard to the health in industry. in industry has a certain It seems that there are decision-making process In a descriptive study by way of a literature study and empirical investigation the contribution of the occupational health nurse in the health decision-making process of an organisation was analysed. This study was conducted on the East Rand, 66 per cent (N=25) of the region's occupational health nurses being involved in the sample. The research design is embodied in the analysis and interpretation of the empirical data. Important conclusions culminating from this study include deficiencies with regard to: first level management skills of the occupational health nurse; authority structures which obstruct lines of communication; the decision-making authority of the occupational health nurse and the accountability of the occupational health nurse in respect of decision-making. Some recommendations were made in connection with improvement of practice, additional education and further research. These recommendations were made with a view to improving the first level management, communication and diagnostic skills of the occupational health nurse.

Thesis (M.Cur.) --University of Limpopo, 2012 / The implementation of a Performance Management System (PMS) and its impact on the professional nurses have never been evaluated and, therefore, the experiences of professional nurses are not known. The purpose of this study was to explore and describe the experiences of professional nurses with regard to performance assessment at the Polokwane Mankweng Hospital Complex. Upon obtaining the clearance to conduct the study from the Medunsa Reseach and Ethics Committee, permission to conduct the study was granted by the Department of Health. A qualitative research approach was used by applying the principles of a phenomenological, exploratory, descriptive and contextual design. Data were collected from fourteen (14) professional nurses by using unstructured face-to-face interviews. Data were audio recorded and field notes were also written. Trustworthiness was ensured by applying the Lincoln and Guba’s criteria. Transferability was ensured by utilizing purposive sampling to include participats. Confirmability was ensured by by collecting data from thr participants who have experience on the problem studied. Data were analysed qualitatively by using Tech’s open coding method. The results indicated that there was conflict between the nurse managers and professional nurses that was arising from dissatisfaction with the assessment rating and scores allocated. Professional nurses complained about unfair ratings, stating that scores were based on personality and not performance. Those professional nurses who were obtaining high scores were perceived as the nurse managers’ favourites. Professional nurses called for a change in or review of the method of performance assessment. The results indicated that nurse managers were lacking knowledge about performance assessment and, therefore, feedback about performance were not given. It is recommended that on-going training of the nurse managers and a change in the method of assessment will remedy the situation.

D.Cur. / Please refer to full text to view abstract

M.Cur. / College management is liable for quality management ofthe college to facilitate quality education. Nursing collegeshave the autonomous responsibility for planning, organising, implementing and controlling nursing education in order to ensure the achievement of programme objectives set by the South African Nursing Council. The college is further accountable to the community for the training of nurses to meet their health needs. Through the implementation of quality improvement strategies, which begin with the description of standards, the college manager accepts responsibility for facilitating quality nursing education through quality management. The purpose of the study was to describe standards for a nursing college, which can be used as a management instrument to facilitate quality education, as well as effective functioning of a nursing college. The aim of the study is justified by means of a descriptive, explorative, contextual research design. Standards for a nursing college were developed and validated by utilising a structured two-phase research method. For the development of standards, the Delphi method, round one, was used to identify subjects for standards, after which a preliminary conceptual framework was compiled. A comprehensive literature control was then undertaken to refine the preliminary conceptual framework. A final conceptual framework was formulated which served as a basis for the description of standards. The final validation of standards occurred in the quantifying phase by means of consensus discussions between experts during round two of the Delphi method. The main subjects for which standards were described, include philosophy, mission, strategic planning, personnel management, general management, research role of the tutor, community involvement, academy, students and quality improvement programme. Structural standards, which can be utilized as a management instrument, were described and represented in the form of an accreditation instrument. The purpose of this instrument is for management to use it for self-evaluation, while the standards are implemented and tested in the nursing colleges.

M.Cur. / Please refer to full text to view abstract

D.Cur. / With the current expanding privatisation of health services in South Africa, the establishing of quality assurance mechanisms is not only essential but is becoming a prerequisite for further privatisation. Privatisation of health care services, together with economical problems, are causing the role fulfilment and accountability structure of the nurse administrator to become much more complex and greater demands are continually made. A profile of the nurse administrator in private hospitals in South Africa, was compiled by means of an explorative descriptive study. This was done to ascertain their preparedness for the formalisation of quality assurance in nursing. The conclusion which was ultimately reached conceded that the nurse administrator in South African private hospitals, is not adequately prepared for her managerial responsibilities. She is, however, according to the registered qualifications, adequately qualified;.. to exercise effective quality control and assurance in the various nursing disciplines. Consequently national nursing service standards for private hospitals were formulated. These standards were validated bya representative group of national experts. The validation process consisted of a two-stage research technique. The statistical validity was calculated by means of a content validity index for each standard. Fourteen (N=275) of these standards (5%) were rejected by the whole group and 25 (9%) require reformulation. The respondents from the private sector rejected three more standards. Standards form the basis of the quality assurance process. These standards should equip the nurse administrator with valuable guidelines to promote a high standard of nursing service management in private hospitals. It is recommended that these standards should serve as optimum standards for nurse administrators in private hospitals.

Thesis (MCur) -- University of Stellenbosch, 2005. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: A non-experimental descriptive study was conducted in four prisons in the Western Cape. The research focussed on the standard of care within primary health care settings in the purposively selected prisons. No official written standards existed to measure the quality of care. After an in-depth literature study, structure, process and outcome standards were formulated and validated. The main findings of the study indicated that: • Standards in these three dimensions of care did not meet the pre-set level of performance as determined by the researcher; • The clients were generally satisfied with the hygiene in the clinics; • Aspects of concern were the lack of explanation offered to the clients before and after consultations and nursing care interventions. The researcher recommends the implementation of a comprehensive quality care model for the health care of the prisoners with adequate human and nonhuman resources Core words: Qualtiy care, Correctional services health care, Nursing care in prisons. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: "n Nie-eksperimentele beskrywende studie is in vier gevangenisse in die Wes- Kaap uitgevoer. Die navorsing het gefokus op die gehalte van sorg binne primere gesondheidsorgomgewings in die doelbewuste geselekteerde omgewings. Geen amptelike geskrewe standaarde om die gehalte van sorg te meet, het bestaan nie. Na 'n in-diepte literatuurstudie is struktuur-, proses- en uitkomsstandaarde geformuleer en gevalideer. Die belangrikste bevindings van die studie het aangedui dat: • Standaarde in hierdie drie dimensies van sorg het nie aan die voorafbepaalde vlak van sorg voldoen het nie soos deur die navorser bepaal is; • Die kliente was oor die algemeen tevrede met die higiene in die klinieke; • Kommerwekkende aspekte het ingesluit die gebrek aan voldoende verduidelikings aan kliente voor en na konsultasies en verpleegintervensies. Die navorser bevel aan dat In omvattende gehalteversekeringsmodel vir die gesondheidsorg van gevangenes ingestel word met voldoende beskikbare mensen ander hulpbronne. Kernwoorde: Gehaltesorg, Korrektiewe dienste gesondheidsorg, Verpleegsorg in gevangenisse.

Patient and public criticism of care in many South African public hospitals has resulted in negative media reports. The purpose of the study was to determine the effect of appointing Quality Assurance Nurse Managers (QANMs) on the provision of quality patient care in selected public hospitals of the Limpopo Province and to make recommendations where appropriate. The study was quantitative, exploratory and descriptive in nature. Data was collected by means of a self-developed questionnaire from 112 respondents, consisting of 10 QANMs and 102 Quality Assurance Team members (QAT). The response rate was 100% for the QANMs and 57% for the QAT members. The study found that most of the ten selected hospitals have a good QA foundation with a vision, mission and goals, QA programme and manual. Moreover, the appointment of the QANMs had a positive impact on the nursing care. Regarding the improvement and change in the provision of nursing care, the majority of the respondents indicated that patients’ complaints about nursing care had declined considerably; the in-service training assisted in improving nursing care, and patients were nursed in totality because of the quality guidelines in the QA manuals. However, the study found that the shortage of equipment, which interferes with the delivery of quality patient care, is a serious problem that hinders the QA programme and needs to be tackled. Recommendations were made for practice and further research. / Health Studies

Patient and public criticism of care in many South African public hospitals has resulted in negative media reports. The purpose of the study was to determine the effect of appointing Quality Assurance Nurse Managers (QANMs) on the provision of quality patient care in selected public hospitals of the Limpopo Province and to make recommendations where appropriate. The study was quantitative, exploratory and descriptive in nature. Data was collected by means of a self-developed questionnaire from 112 respondents, consisting of 10 QANMs and 102 Quality Assurance Team members (QAT). The response rate was 100% for the QANMs and 57% for the QAT members. The study found that most of the ten selected hospitals have a good QA foundation with a vision, mission and goals, QA programme and manual. Moreover, the appointment of the QANMs had a positive impact on the nursing care. Regarding the improvement and change in the provision of nursing care, the majority of the respondents indicated that patients’ complaints about nursing care had declined considerably; the in-service training assisted in improving nursing care, and patients were nursed in totality because of the quality guidelines in the QA manuals. However, the study found that the shortage of equipment, which interferes with the delivery of quality patient care, is a serious problem that hinders the QA programme and needs to be tackled. Recommendations were made for practice and further research. / Health Studies