An exploratory, descriptive design in the phenomenological approach was used to describe and explore how student tutors' experienced the process of evaluation of their clinical teaching in a specific distance-learning programme. The researcher conducted a tape-recorded focus group interview with seven participants who voluntarily agreed to participate. After transcription, the data was analysed using Tesch's (1992:92) method of analysis to code the data into themes in order to identify commonalities. The findings of this study indicated that participants experienced the evaluation process positively and negatively. The negative experiences included difficulty in obtaining access to evaluators, practica facilities, and inconsistencies of evaluators. Recommendations were made for improving evaluation of teaching skills of student tutors in this distance programme. / Health Studies / M. A. (Health Studies)

The predominant trend in nursing education in Zimbabwe is the hospital-based apprenticeship model. Globally, there has been a shift from a hospital-based model to a university-based one. When a new nursing programme is introduced in Zimbabwe, the institution presenting the programme is solely responsible for developing guidelines for running it. The institution in most cases has inadequate infrastructure, human, financial and material resources, and will lack the capacity to develop the guidelines. As a nurse educator, the researcher noticed with concern that newly introduced nurse education programmes in Zimbabwe soon faced problems because they were introduced without clear guidelines. This made their implementation difficult. The purpose of the study was to develop guidelines for the Generic Nursing Programme (GNP), a four-year Bachelor of Science Honours Nursing degree. The GNP will balance clinical practice and theory in order to produce nurses who can meet diverse patients’ needs; function as leaders; advance science that benefits patients, and deliver quality, safe patient care. The researcher used Walt and Gilson’s (1994) policy analysis framework as the theoretical framework for the study. Their policy triangle framework is grounded in a political economy perspective, and considers how the four elements of content, context, actors and processes interact to shape policy-making. The study was a qualitative, explorative case study. Data was collected from forty-nine purposively selected participants by means of semi-structured interviews, focus group discussions and the Delphi technique. The study found that the content of the GNP should include sciences, nursing courses, social sciences and practical component courses. The GNP should be developed in an environment with adequate resources and will hinge on the economic and political situation since that will determine available resources. The actors involved in the development should include the Ministry of Health and Child Welfare; the Nurses Council of Zimbabwe; nurse educators; nurses working in the clinical area, and curriculum committee members of the university that will offer the GNP. The guidelines should ensure good quality nursing education for nursing students, and prevent inconsistencies in and the failure of the GNP. / Health Studies / D. Lit. et Phil. (Health Studies)

The purpose of the study was to develop a short course to inculcate the spirit of Ubuntu amongst the student nurses at Limpopo College of Nursing at Limpopo Province. A sequential explanatory research design was used and data was collected from one hundred and fifteen student nurses at the three (3) campuses for quantitative phase by means of structured interviews and ten (10) level III student nurses from each campus for qualitative phase by means of focus group discussions and reflective diaries. Ten (10) lecturers at the three campus participated in focus group discussions. Quantitative data analysis was done through descriptive analysis and findings were presented in frequencies, tables and charts. The qualitative data analysis was done through Tesch’s eight steps. There were similarities and differences in the themes and subthemes that were presented by all participants. There were also conflicting views from the same participants during qualitative and quantitative phases. The excerpts were presented to support all themes. The study found that Ubuntu needs to be inculcated through formal teaching and mentoring and that Ubuntu should be included in curriculum. Limpopo College of Nursing consists of student nurses from diverse cultures most of which are: Tsonga, Venda and Northern Sotho. They render nursing care to people of diverse cultures as globalisation has encouraged people to travel to different places. Media portrayal of the nursing care in public hospitals and clinics in South Africa is that of negativity. This is partially valid because, for example, the deterioration in nursing care in the public hospitals and clinics is as well evident in Limpopo Province in Mopani District (Bond 2002:1; Mohale & Mulaudzi 2008:61). Furthermore, Ubuntu is not effective if there is no correlation of theory and practice and evaluation of it in the clinical areas. Based on the findings and conclusion of the study, a short course on Ubuntu was developed after the consensus was reached among the participants and the experts who were consulted. / Health Studies / D. Lit. et Phil. (Health Studies)

Using the right method of evaluation for clinical competence in nursing education plays a major role in obtaining appropriate results and making correct judgements. Nurse educators favour the Objective Structured Clinical Assessment (OSCA) for this purpose. The objective of this study was two-fold; firstly to explore and describe the experiences of nurse educators and student nurses of the OSCA within a private nursing college in Gauteng. The second objective was to develop implementation guidelines for the use of the OSCA as an assessment method. A qualitative, exploratory, descriptive, and contextual design was used and employed individual in-depth interviews, as well as field and direct observations to collect data. A purposive sampling method was used to select participants for the study and the sample comprised of ten nurse educators and ten student nurses to represent the population. Data were analysed thematically and resulted in seven themes and eighteen categories relating to nurse educators’ and student nurses’ experiences of the OSCA. Nurse educators had a predominantly negative view of the OSCA as an assessment method related to the ability of the OSCA to assess all learning assessment method related to the ability of the OSCA to assess all learning domains, the quality, structure, and organisation of the assessment, the simulated nature of OSCA, the availability of resources, as well as the feedback, communication and remedial action during the process. Challenges were experienced with the assessment tools as well as the educator as instrument. Educators raised a concern regarding the students’ readiness for evaluation. Student nurses related their experiences prior to the OSCA, their experiences of the educator, the structure and organisation of the OSCA, and their experience related to the communication and feedback of the results. Students related mixed emotional experiences as recipients of the assessment, as well as the relevance and benefits of the OSCA / Health Studies / M.A. (Nursing Education)

Quality assurance forms an integral part of education and training programme delivery. The purpose of this research was to determine whether the quality management systems (QMS) used by nursing education institutions in Gauteng are aligned to the SAQA criteria and guidelines for education and training providers. A quantitative, descriptive and exploratory design was followed using a self-administered questionnaire as data gathering instrument. A total of 32 respondents from three selected nursing education institutions completed the questionnaire. The data were analysed by using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) program. The findings revealed that the nursing education institutions only partially comply with SAQA’s core criteria for quality management systems. Recommendations to improve the current QMS were made. / Health Studies / M.A. (Health Studies)

Text in English / The question the researcher set out to answer during this research study was: "What is the Educational Focus of a Nursing College, when viewed within Bevis and Watson's Humanistic·Educative-Caring Curriculum Paradigm versus a Stimulus-Response Curriculum Paradigm?" To answer this question, an exploratory, descriptive and contextual study was undertaken. The population consisted of tutors employed at a College of Nursing. From this population a purposive sample was drawn. Data was collected by means of formal, semi-structured interviews and a questionnaire. Content analysis was used to analyse the data. It was found that during the first year of students' education and training, the Educational Focus of the College was on training but during the second year, the focus changed to the transitional phase. The transitional phase is situated between training and education. During the third and fourth year, the focus was also in transition, but the way students learn was at the training phase. / Health Studies / M.A. (Advanced Nursing Sciences)

Significant changes have taken place in higher education over dte past ten years. Learners are more liberated and want to be acknowledged as individuals with differences, and not expected to adapt their individual characteristics to fit in with the specific environment of the learning situation. A new emphasis is placed upon creating and sustaining learning environments that accommodate Ieamer needs and dte process of effective learning. Learners' individual needs include their need to learn how to learn and an acceptance of their individual differences as expressed in learning styles. Active Ieamer participation in dte learning process is necessary for effective learning to take place. Only dten can the desired outcome be reached. For a Ieamer to actively participate in the learning process, the Ieamer must know how to learn, and how to function as an independent Ieamer. To reach these goals, sound knowledge of individual differences in learning st;ytes is necessary. The impact of individual differences on education and the way they affect educational practice, future learning and academic achievement places the emphasis even more strongly on constant awareness, updatlng or change, improvement and development of the educational environment. The educator, as one of the role players in the educational environment, is the facilitator of learning, and should be empowered with a strong knowledge base regarding individual differences among both learners and educators, thus becoming more innovative and creative. Qualitative non-empirical research was undertaken. The aim of this research was to analyse and explore the concept learning style as well as to promote learning style awareness through assessment of learning st;ytes, and to provide an organised frame of reference to guide the learning process and provide for systematic education. Based on insight and knowledge gained through Inductive and deductive reasoning, The Learning Style Assessment Tool and a model for learning style promotion in higher education were constructed. The instrument enables learners and educators to assess their own learning st;ytes and identify their learning characteristics and preferences. The model can serve as a basis for acknowledging and accommodating learning styles in higher education. The desired outcome of this research is effective learning and quality education. / Health Studes / D. Litt. et Phil. (Advanced Nursing Sciences)

The lecture room instructional management competence of novice nurse educators (NNEs) in the Republic of South Africa (RSA) was investigated. No comprehensive set of generic roles, outcomes and competences for instructional management of nurse educators could be traced in the literature, therefore an analytical study was undertaken. Adhering to the principles for outcomes-based education, three models were established: Q a model for the professional development of nurse educators Q an Education, Training and Development nurse practitioner model, consisting of roles and outcomes for lecture room instructional management Q a model for lecture room instructional management that served as evaluation criteria used in the instrument during the quantitative survey These models were presented to, and evaluated by nurse educators of five universities. The influence of mentorship, reality shock, and professional development on the NNEs' lecture room competence was investigated. The target group consisted of NNEs, their mentors and students in nursing schools in the RSA. A number of respondents were also interviewed and observed. The analysed data indicated that NNEs were not competent when they started teaching, and needed support and supervision from mentors. Findings also indicated the positive influence of mentorship and professional development on competence acquisition. NNEs experienced reality shock requiring support to acquire competence. These aspects justify further research. The recommendations based on this study include that nursing schools use specific evaluation criteria for le<,1ure room competence and for in-service training of NNEs and mentors. Nursing schools should take a more active role in mentoring programmes. / Health Studies / D. Litt. et Phil. (Advanced Nursing Sciences)

Many factors are present in the teaching and learning environment that could influence students’ motivation positively or negatively. This study explores and describes the factors influencing motivation of nursing students in order to identify student support strategies to enhance motivation in the teaching and learning environment. A qualitative, exploratory, descriptive design was used. The accessible population was all final-year students registered for the certificate leading to enrolment as a nurse (R.2175) and studying at two campuses of a selected private Nursing Education Institution (NEI) in Gauteng province. The sample selection was non-probability, convenient sampling. Data was collected by means of semi-structured focus group interviews. The three main themes that emerged from the collected data were factors related to interpersonal relationships, factors related to the teaching and learning milieu and factors related to self-worth. Recommendations for student support in nursing education, student support in practice and for future research were made. / Verskeie faktore bestaan in die leeromgewing wat motivering van studente positief sowel as negatief beïnvloed. Hierdie studie ondersoek en beskryf die faktore wat die motivering van verpleegstudente beïnvloed om sodoende studentondersteuning-strategieë te identifiseer wat motivering in die leeromgewing sal bevorder. Die navorser het kwalitatiewe navorsing gebruik. Die toeganklike populasie was al die finale jaar studente geregistreer vir die kursus wat lei tot inskrywing as verpleegkundige (R.2175) en aan twee kampusse van ‘n geselekteerde privaatverpleegskool in die Gauteng provinsie studeer. Die nie-waarskynlikheids-, gerieflikheidsteekproeftegniek is gebruik. Semi-gestruktureerde fokusgroeponderhoude is gebruik om data in te samel. Die drie hooftemas wat navore gekom het uit die ingesamelde data was faktore geassosieer met interpersoonlike verhoudings, faktore geassosieer met die leeromgewing en faktore geassosieer met selfwaarde. Aanbevelings vir studentondersteuning in verpleegonderrig, studentondersteuning in praktyk en vir verdere navorsing is gemaak. / Ho na le dintlha tse ngata tse teng tikolohong ya dithuto tse ka bang le kgahlamelo e itseng ho baithuti ka tsela e ntle kapa e bosula. Diphuputso tsena di hlakisa dintlha tse ka bang le kabelo morolong wa baithui ba booki e le hore ho tle ho hlauwe meralo ya tshehetso e tlang ho matlafatsa tikoloho ya dithuto. Ho sebedisitswe mokgwa o nang le boleng, o batsi o hlakileng. Batho bao ho entsweng diphuputso tsena ho bona, e ne e le baithuti ba selemo sa ho qetela ba ingodiseditseng setifikeiti sa ho ya ithutela booki, ba ithutelang dikhemphaseng tse pedi tsa lekala la poraefete la Nursing Education Institution, profensing ya Gauteng. Mokgwa o sebedisitsweng wa ho kgetha, o ne o sa fane ka sephetho se hlakileng, se bobebe. Ho ilwe ha bokelletswa lesedi ka tsela ya dihlopha tse hlonngweng dipotso. Dihlooho (mokotaba) tse tharo tse ka sehlohong tse hlahellang leseding lena le bokelleditsweng, e bile dintlha tse amanang le dikamano tsa batho, dintlha tse amanang le tikoloho ya dithuto le dintlha tse amanang le boitshepo ya motho. Ho entswe dikgothalletso tsa tshehetso ya baithuti thutong ya booki, tshehetso ya baithuti kwetlisong le bakeng sa diphuputso tsa nako e tlang. / Health Studies / M. P. H. (Health Studies)

In contemporary American society, the nursing profession is predominantly made up of white women. Currently, males make up only 6.8 percent of the three million nursing professionals in the U.S. and they are considered gender minorities within the nursing profession and within nursing education. As gender minorities, male students are identified as experiencing nursing programs and the practice of nursing differently than their female counterparts. The purpose of this single instrumental, within site case study was to explore the learning environment for male nursing students and to investigate the nature of the interactions between nursing faculty and male undergraduate students in a Pacific Northwest medical university nursing program. Data was collected in the educational setting through observations, participant interviews, and document analysis. In addition, this study used Kanter's theoretical framework of tokenism to uncover if male nursing students were perceived as tokens in the educational environment. The findings showed that the faculty-student interactions were largely positive; they also revealed that having other males in the class was an instrumental factor in their positive perception of their educational experience. However, the male nursing students also identified areas of discomfort in the educational setting, specifically when practicing clinical skills with female peers, feeling pressured to volunteer and to expose skin during in-class demonstrations, and anticipating that they would be excluded from certain clinical situations. This research indicated that gender differences are present within nursing education and contributed to instances of discomfort for male students. Specific barriers occurred most often when men engaged with female peers and were in clinical settings. These findings provide new insight into when and where men begin to experience gender barriers in the educational environment and are pertinent to understanding the educational environment for men in nursing. Recommendations specifically geared towards assisting students in their first term are suggested for nursing faculty and administrators to ensure that the learning environment is welcoming for men. These recommendations include consciously placing males together in cohort groups and in clinical experiences, reducing instances of visibility and pressure on men in the clinical setting, building faculty awareness of perceived and real barriers for men in the educational setting, and providing faculty with tools to assess and address barriers that are present in the classroom environment.