Nursing is a female dominated profession; making it difficult for men in the profession to excel in their caring capacities as nurses. This study aimed at identifying and describing male and female nurses' insights into and perceptions of socio-cultural influences on the recruitment and retention of men in the nursing profession and also explores their experiences in providing intimate care to patients of opposite gender. The study adopted a qualitative research methodology: 16 male and 11 female nursing students were purposively sampled and were interviewed using semi-structured questions. Themes of nursing seen as women's work; low status; stigma; caring and helping others were developed. Feelings of embarrassment and discomfort; fear and refusal of care were experienced when providing intimate care to patients of opposite gender; this has led male participants to develop strategies to protect themselves from sexual accusations. The Nursing Education Institutions (NEIs) have insufficient toilets for male nursing students; there is a lack of male role models and feminine pronouns are used when relating to professional nurses. Evidently socio-cultural perceptions of nursing enforce a negative image. The difficulties experienced by male and female nurses when providing intimate care and lack of male-friendliness in NEIs were discussed. These factors will lead to a further decline in the recruitment and retention of men in nursing; skilled and intelligent nurses are leaving the profession. / Health Studies / M.A. (Nursing Science)

The purpose of this study was to determine factors influencing skilled delivery service utilisation in order to develop strategies to improve utilisation of skilled birth attendance service in North West Ethiopia. The objectives were to explore and describe the perceptions and experiences of the community regarding skilled utilisation of the birth attendance service; explore reasons for non-utilisation of skilled birth attendance service; asses the health system experience of provision of skilled birth attendance service; and formulate strategies to improve utilisation of skilled birth attendance service. The study employed a qualitative, descriptive, and explorative research design to address the research questions formulated by the researcher. The study used focus group discussion guide to obtain information from pregnant women and women who gave birth recently. Furthermore, the study used an interview guide to gather information from health extension workers, midwives, health centre heads, district health office technical experts and heads. It also employed and inductive thematic analysis approach to analyse the qualitative data. The study further used the Atlas ti version 7 for the data analysis. The steps followed for the analysis were data immersion, coding, displaying, reduction, and interpretation. Overall, nine themes emerged from the analysis of the data. Consequently, the researcher used the findings of the study to develop strategies to improve the utilisation of skilled birth attendance service. / Health Studies / D. Litt. et Phil. (Health Studies)

The purpose of the study was to determine professional nurses’ knowledge of culture- competent care at selected medical and oncology wards and outpatient departments in Mopani District, Limpopo Province. A quantitative descriptive design was used and data collected from one hundred and five professional nurses by means of a structured questionnaire. The study found that cultural knowledge needs to be nurtured through continuing education and mentoring and that culture-competent care should be included in the curriculum. Furthermore, cultural knowledge is not effective if there is no correlation of theory and practice and early clinical placement of student nurses during their basic training / Health Studies / M. A. (Health Studies)

The purpose of this study was to develop and test a measuring instrument based on the Gibb’s Defensive Communication Climate Paradigm (1961) to assess the communication climate focus of professional nurses in selected public hospitals in the Gauteng province. This focus involves the communication behaviour orientation of the professional nurses and their perceptions of the communication behaviour orientation of their operational managers. The Gibb’s model comprises six bipolar conceptual continuums, namely Evaluation-Description, Control-Problem orientation, Strategy-Spontaneity, Neutrality-Empathy, Superiority-Equality and Certainty-Provisionalism Continuums. The study consisted of a non-experimental design, including a developmental phase and a testing phase. During the developmental phase the researcher developed a measuring instrument (a Semantic Differential Scale questionnaire); used a simple, random sample method to pre-test the instrument; analysed the data by applying Cronbach’s Alpha reliability analysis and refined the instrument. Further refinement of this new instrument by future researchers is recommended. During the testing phase the researcher also used a simple, random sample, consisting of professional nurses (N = 270) from three selected public hospitals in Gauteng; tested the items against the biographical data and the three research questions and analysed the obtained data by utilising both descriptive and inferential statistics. A Delphi panel of experts were involved in both phases of the study. The results of the study indicated that although the respondents had a predominantly supportive communication behaviour orientation, they were more focused on the communication behaviour of their operational managers than on their own. Furthermore, the results indicated no significant differences in the influencing factors: age, tenure (periods in hospital), gender, language and institution (public hospital), in terms of the six conceptual continuums. Significant differences were found only in the factor: unit/ward, indicating that the supportiveness of the communication behaviour of professional nurses could be dependent on their specific work environment. Guidelines aimed at the development of a supportive climate were drawn up for the National Department of Health, Gauteng Department of Health, public hospitals, operational managers and professional nurses. It is recommended that implementation of the newly developed guidelines be pivotal for public hospitals, to refocus their communication climates towards supportive communication. / Health Studies / D. Litt. et Phil. (Health Studies)

Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) / Vaccinations are an important step in preventing childhood illnesses and disease outbreaks in the community. Complete immunizations before school assure eligibility for enrollment and protect children against severe illness. The fact that foreign-born children of Latino immigrants face health disparities in receiving vaccinations is well documented. However, there is little information in the literature about the actual experience of immigrants facing the complexities of the health system, and through their eyes, which factors ultimately affect vaccination rates of immigrant Latino children. The purpose of this study is to give voice to Latino immigrant families who have recently immigrated to the United States, in terms of the issues they encountered when engaging the health care system for vaccinations.

Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) / The PeerSpirit Circle is a non-hierarchical, intentional, and relationship-centered practice of collaboration. There is a lack of scientific knowledge about the phenomenon of the PeerSpirit Circle in nursing or its potential impact on nursing practice, education, research, and the evolution of the profession and health care. The health care milieu is often entrenched in ways of being that do not support sustained change. For vitality to prosper and creativity to abound, paradigmatic shifts and new models of practice that emphasize collaboration are being called for. The purpose and aims of this phenomenological research study are to explore and give voice to the experiences of nurses who have participated in the PeerSpirit Circle model of practice with other nurses. The study includes interviews from five registered nurses from Canada and the United States conducted from 2009–2010 and interpreted from a Gadamerian philosophical hermeneutic perspective. The research findings reveal three themes: (1) experiencing the Circle container” where participants begin to understand the value of intentional preparation of the interpersonal space for safe human interaction and stronger collaboration—there are experiences of gathering, protecting, appreciating ritual, and sharing stories; (2) Experiencing space where protected space seems to be the essential element to inspire the presencing of participants with self and other, which in turn engenders genuine dialogue, a sense of sacred space, and freedom to be authentic; and (3) Experiencing our humanity, an unfolding theme, where participants experience reconnection with and understanding of their deeper humanity, stronger congruence with their core values, deeper experiences of caring and courage, personal and professional growth, and a profound appreciation for belonging to a lineage of nurses. The findings inspire a deeper understanding of barriers to congruence between values and action in nursing and nurses’ need to acknowledge, honor, support, and protect each other’s vulnerability. The implications for nursing practice, education, and research show that the PeerSpirit Circle model is a beneficial for use in all settings.