Thesis (MCur)--Stellenbosch University, 2015. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Disruptive behaviour among health care providers in high stress areas such as the perioperative setting has been linked to negative patient safety. Conflicts of power, role and personality lead to communication failure, which are identified as the leading root cause of medication errors and wrong site surgery. The aim of the study was to explore and describe the factors underlying registered nurse (RN) interactions in a tertiary healthcare perioperative area. A non-experimental, descriptive, exploratory study with self-administered survey using a quantitative approach was used. The total population of N=52 participants working in the perioperative area of a Middle Eastern tertiary healthcare centre were invited to participate in the study and the response rate was n=44, 85%. A structured self-administered questionnaire was used to collect the data. Reliability and validity was assured by means of a pilot study and consultation with nursing experts and a statistician. The Health Research Ethics Committee of the University of Stellenbosch approved the study. Permission for the study to be done in the tertiary care centre was obtained from the Internal Ethical Review Board and the Nursing Executive. Informed written consent was obtained from the participants. Anonymity and confidentiality was respected. The data was analysed with the assistance of a statistician and presented in frequencies, tables and histograms. The responses were compared using Mann-Whitney U test, Kruskal- Wallis ANOVA and Spearman’s Rank correlation, on a 95% confidence level. Only one factor showed a significant result, following Spearman’s Rank correlation that an association exists between work experience and lateral violence (p≤0.045239). The open-ended questions were categorized into themes and respect and communication emerged as factors necessary in teamwork and task management The level of respect and open communication between RNs were seen as important factors for interacting with colleagues in the workplace and if poor, affects team work. An area of concern was the high number of neutral responses to the statements on morale and conflict. Underpinned by the literature and the outcomes of this study, it is recommended that strong leadership is required to implement regular team building activities. Furthermore, perioperative staff should be monitored for emotional fatigue which results from conflict situations in order to avert adverse patient care events. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Steurende gedrag onder gesondheidsorgwerkers in hoë gespanne areas soos in die perioperatiewe omgewing, word gekoppel aan negatiewe pasiënt veiligheid. Konflikte van mag, rol en persoonlikheid lei tot mislukking van kommunikasie wat geïdentifiseer word as die hoofoorsaak van foute by die toediening van medikasie en verkeerde plek vir chirurgie. Die doel van die studie was om die faktore te ondersoek en te beskryf wat onderliggend is aan geregistreerde verpleeg (GV) interaksies in ’n tersiêre gesondheidsorg perioperatiewe area. ’n Nie-eksperimentele, beskrywende, ondersoekende studie met ’n self-administrerende opname deur ’n kwantitatiewe benadering, was gebruik. Die totale populasie van N=52 deelnemers wat in die perioperatiewe area van ’n Midde-Oosterse tersiêre gesondheidsorgsentrum werk, was uitgenooi om deel te neem aan hierdie studie en die responskoers was n=44, 85%. ’n Gestruktureerde self-administrerende vraelys was gebruik om die data te kollekteer. Betroubaarheid en geldigheid was verseker deur die gebruik van ’n loodsprojek en konsultasie met verpleegdeskundiges, asook ’n statistikus. Die Gesondheidsnavorsingsetiekkomitee aan die Universiteit van Stellenbosch het die studie goedgekeur. Toestemming vir die uitvoer van die studie by die tersiêre gesondheidssentrum was verkry van die Interne Etiese Oorsigraad en die Uitvoerende Verplegingsbestuur. Ingeligte geskrewe toestemming was verkry van die deelnemers. Anonimiteit en vertroulikheid was gerespekteer. Die data was geanaliseer met die hulp van ’n statistikus en aangebied in frekwensies, tafels en histogramme. Die response was vergelyk deur van Mann-Whitney U-toets, Kruskal-Wallis ANOVA of Spearman se Rangkorrelasie op ’n 95% vertroulikheidsvlak gebruik te maak. Slegs een faktor het ’n beduidende resultaat getoon, dat daar ’n assosiasie bestaan tussen werkservaring en laterale geweld (p≤0.045239), deur Spearman se Rangkorrelasie te volg. Die ope-vrae was gekategoriseer in temas. Respek en kommunikasie het as noodsaaklike faktore vir spanwerk en taakbestuur na vore gekom. Die vlak van respek en ope kommunikasie tussen geregistreerde verpleegsters was gesien as belangrike faktore vir interaksie met kollegas in die werkplek en indien dit swak is, affekteer dit spanwerk. ’n Area van besorgdheid was die hoë aantal neutrale response op die stellings oor moraal en konflik. Ondersteun deur die literatuur en die uitkomste van die studie, word dit aanbeveel dat sterk leierskap vereis word om gereelde spanbou aktiwiteite te implementeer. Verder behoort perioperatiewe personeel gemonitor te word vir emosionele moegheid wat spruit uit konfliksituasies, ten einde nadelige pasiëntsorg af te weer.

Thesis (MCur (Nursing Science))--University of Stellenbosch, 2009. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Nursing documentation is the written evidence of nursing practice and reflects the accountability of nurses to patients. Accurate documentation is an important prerequisite for individual and safe nursing care. It is a severe threat for the individuality and safety of patient care if important aspects of nursing care remain undocumented. Nursing staff cannot rely on information that is not documented. Every patient is important and unique hence every patient’s care is individualised and different according to his/her needs. This is why important aspects of his/her care need to be documented. Ultimately, the documentation practices reflect the values of the nursing personnel (Isola, Muurinen and Voutilainen, 2004:79-80). The goal of this study was to investigate documentation of nursing care with reference to current practices and perceptions of nurses in a teaching hospital in Saudi Arabia Specific objectives of the study were:  to identify whether the hospital policies are being carried out  to identify whether the procedures regarding current documentation are being carried out and  to explore the perceptions of the nurses regarding the current documentation practices. Research Methodology For the purpose of this study, a non-experimental descriptive design with a quantitative approach was used. The study was carried out at King Faisal Specialist Hospital in Jeddah in Saudi Arabia. The total population of 90 registered nurses were used in this study. Questionnaires were distributed to the participants and they were answered with no identities written on the questionnaires. After the questionnaires were completed, it was posted in a box and was collected by the researcher. The questions are straightforward, easily understood, unambiguous, non-leading, objectively set and aimed at obtaining views, experiences and perceptions of documentation of nursing care. . Involvement of participants was voluntary and non-coercive. Data analysis were carried out with the support of a statistician, expressed in tables, frequencies and statistical associations were done between various variables based on a 95% confidence interval. The study revealed that:  Hospital policies are being carried out N=76 (95%)  Procedures pertaining to documentation of nursing care are being carried out N=67(83,7%).  Nurses N=45(56,3%) indicated that paper documentation included a lot of paperwork.  The Cerner (computer system) is regarded as the best system ever used for documentation of nursing care N=44(55%)  The Mycare system (medication ordering system) is regarded as the most reliable, user-friendly system and nurses are happy with it N=68(85%) Recommendations are:  Nurses still need to be taught about the hospital policies  Nurses should be taught the correct procedure on documenting the patient data  Nurse clinicians and managers should check the Cerner for compliance with regard to documentation of physical assessment when conducting audits  Use of paper for nursing documentation should be minimized by shifting some of the nursing documentation procedures from paperwork to electronic version  Continuous updating, in-service training and monitoring to keep nurses abreast with the dynamic nature of computer usage  Reviewing of the system, troubleshooting and suggestions from users need to be attended to on a continuous basis  It is recommended that a backup system (generator) is in place to ensure continuity of documentation. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die dokumentering van verpleegsorg is die skriftelike bewys van die verpleegpraktyk en weerspieël die toerekenbaarheid van verpleegsters teenoor pasiënte. Noukeurige dokumentering is ’n belangrike voorvereiste vir individuele en veilige verpleegsorg. Dit is ’n ernstige bedreiging vir die individualiteit en veiligheid van pasiënte-sorg, indien belangrike aspekte van verpleegsorg nie gedokumenteer word nie. ’n Mens kan nie inligting vertrou wat nie gedokumenteer is nie. Die versorging van elke pasiënt is belangrik en uniek. Dit is waarom belangrike aspekte aangaande haar/sy versorging gedokumenteer behoort te word. Uiteindelik weerspieël die dokumenteringspraktyke, die waardes van die verpleegpersoneel (Isola, Muurinen en Voutilainen, 2004: 79-80). Die doel van die studie was om dokumentasie van verpleegsorg met verwysing na huidige praktyke en persepsies van verpleegkundiges in ‘n opleidingshospitaal in Saudi Arabia te ondersopek. Spesifieke doelwitte was  om vas te stel of die hospitaal se beleidsrigtings toegepas word  om vas te stel of die prosedure t.o.v die huidige dokumentering uitgevoer is  en’n ondersoek na die persepsies van verpleegsters aangaande die huidige dokumenteringspraktyke Vir die doel van hierdie studie is ’n nie-eksperimentele beskrywingsontwerp met ’n kwantitatiewe benadering gevolg. Hierdie studie was in King Faisal Specialist Hospital in Jeddah, in Saudia Arabia gedoen. ’n Totale bevolking van 90 geregistreerde verpleegsters was betrokke. Vraelyste was versprei na die deelnemers en is naamloos beantwoord, sonder dat hulle identiteite op die vraelys aangebring is. Na voltooiing van die vraelyste, is dit in ’n houer geplaas en deur die navorser afgehaal. Die vrae is direk, eenvoudig, maklik verstaanbaar, ondubbelsinnig, nie-afleibaar, objektief opgestel en is daarop gemik om gesigspunte, ervaringe en persepsies oor dokumentering van verpleegsters te verkry. Betrokkenheid van deelnemers was vrywillig en nie afdwingbaar nie. Data is getabuleer en in histogramme en frekwensies voorgestel. Deur die Chi-square- toets te gebruik, is statisties betekenisvolle assosiasies tussen veranderlikes bepaal. Bevindinge sluit die volgende in:  Die hospitaalbeleid word toegepas N= 76(95%)  Prosedure t.o.v. dokumentering aangaande verpleegsorg word uitgedra N=67(83,7%)  Verpleegsters het aangedui dat dokumentering op papier, baie papierwerk behels N=45(56,3%)  Die Cerner (rekenaarstelsel) word beskou as die beste stelsel ooit in gebruik vir die dokumentering van verpleegsorg N==44(55%)  Die Mycare stelsel (medisyne bestellingstelsel) word beskou as betroubaar en gebruikersvriendelik, en een waarmee verpleegsters gelukkig is N=68(85%). Aanbevelings is gemaak, gebaseer op die volgende bevindinge:  Dit is steeds nodig dat verpleegsters die hospitaal se beleidsrigtinge geleer moet word  Verpleegsters moet die korrekte prosedure aangaande die dokumentering van die pasiënt se data geleer word  Verpleegklinici en bestuurders moet die Cerner nagaan ter voldoening van die dokumentering van fisiese waardebepalinge tydens ouditeringe  Die gebruik van papier vir verpleegdokumentering behoort afgeskaal te word deur van die praktyk van papierwerk na elektroniese dokumentering te skuif  Voortdurende bywerking van data, indiensopleiding en monitering van verpleegsters om hulle op die hoogte te hou van die dinamiese aard van rekenaargebruik  Hersiening van die stelsel, foutspeurdery en voorstelle van gebruikers moet op ’n voortdurende basis aandag geniet.

Thesis (MCurr)--Stellenbosch University, 2013. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Literature suggests that job satisfaction and retention of nurses can be improved by empowering nurses in decision making (Mark, Lindley & Jones, 2009:120; Mangold, Pearson, Schmitz, Scherb, Specht & Loes, 2006:266; Manojlovich, 2007; and Scherb, Specht, Loes & Reed, 2010:2). Positive work environments such as those found in Magnet® accredited hospitals and those where management models have flat hierarchical structures, support the decisional involvement of registered nurses. Decisional involvement is described as “the pattern of distribution of authority for decisions and activities that govern nursing practice policy and the practice environment” (Havens & Vasey, 2005:377). The purpose of this study was to explore the decisional involvement of registered nurses in a tertiary hospital in Saudi Arabia. It is hypothesized that an empowering shared governance structure will result in a high level of decisional involvement of registered nurses who provide direct patient care. A quantitative study with a descriptive exploratory design was chosen to answer the research objectives. Through simple random sampling, n=140 registered nurses who provide direct patient care (target population N=672) and through non-probability purposive sampling n=18 nurse managers (target population N=21), participated in the study. A self-administered questionnaire was designed which included a validated tool, namely the Decisional Involvement Scale (Havens & Vasey, 2003:333). A pilot study was completed to test the validity of the self-designed sections of the questionnaire. Numerical data was analysed using STATISTICA v. 11.5 while the open-ended questions were analysed and placed into themes. It was found that registered nurses who provide direct patient care have low levels of actual and preferred decisional involvement, implying that the authority for decisional involvement lies with managers. The hypothesis that empowering shared governance structures will result in a high level of decisional involvement is not supported. There was no statistical difference identified between bedside Registered Nurses (bedside RNs) and nurse managers in the overall perception of decisional involvement. Factors that were identified to impact on decisional involvement included educational level, experience, leadership styles, the work environment and a culture of shared decision making. It is recommended that the focus to improve the decisional involvement of registered nurses who provide direct patient care should be on addressing those activities where more decisional involvement is preferred, while concurrently addressing those factors that were identified which would impact on the decisional involvement of all registered nurses. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Literatuurstudies dui aan dat bemagtiging van verpleegkundiges in die proses van besluitneming tot meer werksbevrediging en retensie sal lei. Positiewe werksomgewings soos die by Magnet geakkrediteerde hospitale en die met plat hiërargiese bestuursmodelle dra by tot betrokkenheid van geregistreerde verpleegkundiges in besluitneming. Betrokkenheid by besluitneming word beskryf as ‘die wyse waarop outoriteit versprei is sodat besluite en akwiteite wat verpleegpraktykbeleid en die praktykomgewing bepaal, uitgevoer kan word’ (Havens & Vasey, 2005:377). Die doel van die studie was om die betrokkenheid te bepaal van geregistreerde verpleegkundiges by besluitneming in ‘n tersiêre hospitaal in Saoedi-Arabië. Die hipotese is dat ‘n bemagtigende, gedeelde bestuurstruktuur sal lei tot ‘n hoë vlak van deelnemende besluitneming by geregistreerde verpleegkundiges verantwoordelik vir direkte verpleegsorg. Die navorsingsdoelwitte is beantwoord deur middel van ‘n kwantitatiewe studie met ‘n beskrywende, ondersoekende ontwerp. Geregistreerde verpleegkundiges (n=140) wat direkte verpleegsorg lewer (teikengroeppopulasie N=672) is gebruik as deelnemers in die studie. Verpleegdiensbestuurders (n=18) is ook gebruik as deelnemers en gekies deur nie-waarskynlike, doelbewuste steekproefneming (teikenpopulasie N=21). ’n Self-toegepasde vraelys is ontwerp, met insluiting van ‘n geldig verklaarde Besluitnemende Betrokkenheidskaal (Havens & Vasey, 2003:333). ‘n Loodsstudie om die geldigheid van die selfontwerpte deel te bepaal, is voltooi Numeriese data is ontleed deur middel van STATISTICA v. 11.5. Oop-einde vrae is ontleed en in kategorieë georganiseer. Daar is gevind dat geregistreerde verpleegkundiges wat direkte pasiëntsorg lewer, laer vlakke van werklike en verkose betrokkenheid het in besluitneming, wat aandui dat die outoriteit vir besluitnemende betrokkenheid by bestuurders lê. Die hipotese dat bemagtigende gedeelde bestuurstrukture tot ‘n hoë vlak van deelneming in besluitneming sal lei, word nie ondersteun nie. Daar was nie ‘n beduidende statistiese verskil tussen geregistreerde verpleegkundiges wat by die bed betrokke is en verpleegdiensbestuurders met algehele waarnemingsbetrokkenheid by besluitneming nie. Geïdentifiseerde faktore wat ‘n rol speel by betrokkenheid by besluitneming behels opvoedkundige vlak, ondervinding, leierskapstyle, die werkomgewing en ‘n kultuur van gedeelde besluitneming. Daar word aanbeveel dat aktiwiteite waarby geregistreerde verpleegkundiges wat direkte pasiëntsorg lewer, verkies om meer betrokke by te wees tydens besluitneming, aangespreek word. Terselfdertyd moet geïdentifiseerde faktore wat ‘n rol speel in die betrokkenheid van besluitneming van alle geregistreerde verpleegkundiges ook aangeroer word.

Thesis (MCur)--Stellenbosch University, 2011. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The quality of care nurses provide to patients is done with the expectation that skills and knowledge of each registered nurse will result in quality patient care. Compliance statistics for quality indicators (level of service indicators) or (LSI’s) in the tertiary health care institution in Saudi Arabia varies, raising the following questions: “Do nurses understand the importance of quality indicators in clinical nursing and do they know how to use them to improve patient care?” No studies done on registered nurses’ knowledge and opinions of quality indicators could be found thus indicate the necessity of a research study to determinine the knowledge and opinions of registered nurses on quality indicators in clinical nursing in the tertiary healthcare system in Saudi Arabia. This is the focus of this research. The objectives of the study were: - To determine the current knowledge and opinions of the professional nurses regarding quality indicators in a tertiary hospital in Saudi Arabia - To identify the factors that influence identification of quality indicators in clinical nursing - To identify the need for a training program regarding nurse sensitive quality indicators Data was collected through a questionnaire handed to more than 200 nurses working in general wards and intensive care areas in a single Saudi Arabian hospital. Participants were selected through a randomised list. The registered nurses who have participated in the pilot study’s responses were excluded from the final data analysis. No patients were included or involved in the study. A descriptive design with a quantitative approach was applied to investigate the professional nurses’ knowledge and opinions on quality indicators (level of service indicators) or (LSI’s) in clinical nursing in Saudi Arabia. Research data suggests that the knowledge and opinions of registered nurses in the tertiary health care institution in Saudi Arabia are not supporting the expectations of quality assurance in clinical nursing. Registered nurses have strong opinions of quality indicators in clinical nursing but do not have the knowledge to support those opinions. Improving initial and recurring training on quality indicators provided to nursing staff with diverse backgrounds and high turnover was recommended as an essential component in using quality indicators to drive improvements in patient care. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die kwaliteit verpleegsorg wat verpleegkundiges op ‘n daaglikse basis aan kliente bied gaan gepaard met die verwagting dat hulle oor die kennis en bevoegtheid moet beskik om kwaliteit verpleegsorg aan te wend wat ‘n langdurige positiewe uitkoms met verwysing na pasientsorg kan bied. Die kwaliteits aanwyser statistieke in die tersiere gesondheidsorg sisteem verskil maandeliks en het die navorser geinspireer om ‘n studie te doen om te bepaal of geregistreerde verpleegkundiges verstaan wat die belangrikheid van kwaliteits aanwysers is en of hulle die kennis het oor die gebruik daarvan, in watter opsigte dit gebruik kan word en wat die voordele inhou wanneer kennis en applikasie daarvan vir kliniese verpleging toegepas word. Literatuur met betrekking tot vorige studies omtrent kennis en opinies van geregistreerde verpleegkundiges tot kwaliteits aanwysers in kliniese verpleeging kon nie deur die navorser gevind word wat gebruik kon word as agtergrond of ondersteuning tot die studie nie. Die fokus van die navorsings studie was om geregistreerde verpleegkundiges se kennis en opinies te bepaal met betrekking tot kwaliteits aanwysers in kliniese verpleging in die tersiere gesondheidsorg sisteem in Saudi Arabie. Die doelwitte van die studie was om: - Die huidige kennis en opinies van geregistreerde verpleegkundiges met betrekking tot kwaliteits aanwysers in die tersiere gesondheidsorg sisteem in Saudi Arabie te bepaal - Om faktore wat ‘n invloed op identifikasie van kwaliteits aanwysers het te identifiseer - Om die nodigheid van ‘n opleidings program met betrekking tot kwaliteits aanwysers te bepaal Die data van die studie was ingesamel deur middel van ‘n vraelys wat aan die geregistreerde verpleegkundiges meesal werksaam is in algemene sale of intensiewe sorgeenhede. Deelnemers was gekies deur middel van ‘n alternatiewe lys. Die deelnemers aan die loots studie was ge-ellimineer van die finale data analise. Geen pasiente was betrokke by die studie nie. ‘n Beskrywende ontwerp met ‘n kwantitatiewe benadering was toegepas om geregistreerde verpleegkundiges se kennis en opinies omtrent kwaliteits aanwysers in kliniese verpleging in die tersiere gesondheidsorg sisteem in Saudi Arabie te toets. Die navorsing het bewys dat die kennis en opinies van geregistreerde verpleegkundiges in die tersiere gesondheidsorg sisteem in Saudi Arabie nie op ‘n aanvaarbare standard kan geklassifiseer word nie asook nie die nodige kwaliteits versekering in kliniese verpleging ondersteun nie. Die studie bewys dat geregistreerde verpleegkundiges beskik oor genoegsame opinies omtrent kwaliteitaanwysers maar nie noodwendig oor die kennis om hulle opinies daaroor te ondersteun nie. Die studie is ook uitkoms gebaseerd omtrent die nodigheid van ‘n opleidings program met betrekking tot kwaliteits versekering in kliniese verpleegkunde te implimenteer, insluitend die vakgebied van kwaliteits aanwysers in kliniese verpleeging.

Background: Since the 1980s, Saudi Arabia’s socio economic transformation has led to vast social development. As a result there has been increased adoption of behaviours such as smoking and sedentary life styles, which pose a risk to health. It is anticipated that cancer incidence will double over the next two decades and it is thus vital that high quality of care is provided to meet the growing health care demands. Moreover, it is important that patients are satisfied with their care provision. This thesis begins with a narrative synthesis of the existing literature about patient satisfaction in the Saudi context and beyond. An evaluation of the key concepts for understanding patient satisfaction illuminated the lack of evidence about the assessment of patient satisfaction including specific key domains of the structure and process of care. This evaluation also indicated the need to further investigate the Saudi patient perspectives in oncology hospital setting. The aim of my study was to examine the extent to which clinical effectiveness impacts upon patient satisfaction in oncology ward settings in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). Methods: A sequential explanatory mixed methods design was employed. The Donabedian quality framework (1980) and Patient experience model (Reimann and Strech 2010) were used to assess patient satisfaction with quality of care provided. A quantitative phase was followed by a qualitative phase. In the first phase, the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) IN-PATSAT32 validated questionnaire was used to collect data from 100 adult oncology inpatients at a Cancer Centre in Riyadh. The second qualitative phase involved semi-structured telephone and face to face interviews with 22 adult oncology inpatients who previously answered the questionnaire. Synthesis occurred at the intersection of quantitative Phase 1 and qualitative Phase 2 data. The qualitative Phase 2 thus further explored the satisfaction scores of quantitative Phase1 to deepen the understanding of patient satisfaction in oncology ward settings in KSA. Findings: The main findings were that patient satisfaction levels are influenced by the clinical effectiveness of doctors and nurses, accessibility to health care and socio-demographic factors. Specifically, the interpersonal aspects of care were deemed core to patient experiences in oncology ward settings in KSA. It emerged that doctor-patient relationships, nurse shortages and language barriers are particular areas where changes could be made to improve care, thereby enhancing patient satisfaction. These findings contribute important new insights into the interpersonal aspects of care in the light of the underlying social and cultural contextual factors that influence patient satisfaction in the KSA. Conclusion: This study has provided new evidence supporting the need for stronger interpersonal relations and a more patient-centred approach in the oncology health system in KSA. In particular, the influential role of cultural issues in influencing patient satisfaction in oncology ward settings was apparent. Evidence provided by this research will make a substantial contribution to policy makers and hospital management teams in the KSA wanting to improve patient satisfaction in oncology wards and in other health care settings.

The aim of the study was to describe the perceptions of critical care nurses concerning family witnessed resuscitation, presenting arguments for or against the practice thereof. A quantitative, descriptive and exploratory approach was used. For the study, a non- probability convenience sample of 100 critical care nurses from five critical care units were used. A combined open-ended and closed-ended questionnaire was used. The majority of critical care nurses in the study disapproved of the idea of family witnessed resuscitation. They believed it to be traumatic for relatives, threatening to the resuscitation process and increasing litigation. Although the dominant feeling was one of disapproval, some critical care nurses felt that family witnessed resuscitation was beneficial to relatives. Recommendations for future practice included incorporation of educational programmes for critical care nurses concerning family witnessed resuscitation and providing training to deal with the stresses of family witnessed resuscitation. / Health Studies / M.A (Health Studies)

The purpose of this study was to explore and describe the surgical nurses’ perceptions about the management of post-operative pain and strategies employed in management of pain in patients who have undergone total hip or knee replacement surgery in King Abdulaziz Medical City, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Qualitative, exploratory-descriptive research design was applied. Purposive nonprobability sampling was used and data collected by means of audio-recorded semistructured individual interviews. Data saturation was reached after interviewing twenty surgical nurses. Themes and categories emerged from adopting Creswell’s (2013) “data analysis spiral”. One of the key findings was that patients reportedly experience moderate to severe pain during the first three days after surgery, before it is controlled on mild to moderate levels or before the patient is pain free. Conclusions were drawn, and one of the major ones was that multimodal strategies are employed by the surgical to manage post-operative pain. Recommendations were also made from findings of this study, and one key recommendation was that expatriate nurses to have access to Arabic speakers to overcome language barriers. / Health Studies

The aim of the study was to describe the perceptions of critical care nurses concerning family witnessed resuscitation, presenting arguments for or against the practice thereof. A quantitative, descriptive and exploratory approach was used. For the study, a non- probability convenience sample of 100 critical care nurses from five critical care units were used. A combined open-ended and closed-ended questionnaire was used. The majority of critical care nurses in the study disapproved of the idea of family witnessed resuscitation. They believed it to be traumatic for relatives, threatening to the resuscitation process and increasing litigation. Although the dominant feeling was one of disapproval, some critical care nurses felt that family witnessed resuscitation was beneficial to relatives. Recommendations for future practice included incorporation of educational programmes for critical care nurses concerning family witnessed resuscitation and providing training to deal with the stresses of family witnessed resuscitation. / Health Studies / M.A (Health Studies)

The purpose of this study was to explore and describe the surgical nurses’ perceptions about the management of post-operative pain and strategies employed in management of pain in patients who have undergone total hip or knee replacement surgery in King Abdulaziz Medical City, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Qualitative, exploratory-descriptive research design was applied. Purposive nonprobability sampling was used and data collected by means of audio-recorded semistructured individual interviews. Data saturation was reached after interviewing twenty surgical nurses. Themes and categories emerged from adopting Creswell’s (2013) “data analysis spiral”. One of the key findings was that patients reportedly experience moderate to severe pain during the first three days after surgery, before it is controlled on mild to moderate levels or before the patient is pain free. Conclusions were drawn, and one of the major ones was that multimodal strategies are employed by the surgical to manage post-operative pain. Recommendations were also made from findings of this study, and one key recommendation was that expatriate nurses to have access to Arabic speakers to overcome language barriers. / Health Studies / M.A. (Health Studies)

The study was conducted with the aim of assessing the Saudi Arabian cultural knowledge among the non-Muslim nurses. These nurses work in the obstetric units at the King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre, Jeddah and come from different cultural groups and are caring for the Saudi Arabian Muslim women. In order for care to be congruent, comprehensive and of a high quality, the patients' needs should be met at the best attainable level. Nurses in all health care settings are expected to demonstrate knowledge of the culture that they serve in order to eliminate barriers. Data analysis was facilitated with the use of the SPSS 11.5 computer program. The study findings may suggest the development of educational guidelines, which will direct the activities of an educational intervention. / Health Studies / M.A. (Health Studies))