Health Studies / M. A. (Health Studies)

A quantitative, descriptive, explorative design was applied to study the problems that hindered the Primary Health Care (PHC) nurses in rendering quality health care in the health facilities in Limpopo province South Africa. The sample consisted of 53 PHC nurses who completed a pre-tested questionnaire which covered various aspects related to the provision of quality PHC services. The data were analysed by computer using SPSS version 15 soft ware. The findings revealed that most of the problems could be attributed to financial constraints, poor budgeting, and shortage of staff to manage large number of patients, lack of enough support from other professional staff, unreliable referral systems and communication networks. PHC nurses work under difficult conditions and often have to improvise to care for patients, but unless more funds are allocated to rural health care facilities and these problems are addressed, more nurses will work under difficult circumstances. / Health Studies / M.A. (Health Studies)

Workplace violence directed at student nurses in training in psychiatric institutions is a significant concern as it negatively affects the quality of learning and causes the students to have a negative perception of nursing as a profession. The absence of scientific data describing the perceptions of student nurses about workplace violence and their clinical learning outcome motivated the researcher to conduct the study. Quantitative, descriptive research was conducted to explore the influence that workplace violence will have on clinical learning outcomes of student nurses who are studying psychiatric nursing at psychiatric institutions in KwaZulu-Natal, in South Africa. Data was gathered using a 71 question questionnaire, which was adapted from the one used by Hewett (2010). With the necessary permission from the health authorities, the campus principals and the nursing students, a group of 4th year student nurses (n=163) from 6 campuses of the KwaZulu-Natal College of Nursing (KZNCN) who have worked in psychiatric units for at least 3 months and longer participated in the study. The study highlighted the types of workplace violence encountered by student nurses, the effects of workplace violence on students’ academic performance and the barriers to the reporting of workplace violence encountered by the student nurses. The study revealed that there is a large amount of non-physical, some physical and a few incidents of sexual violence directed towards the student nurses at the psychiatric institutions, and that it has a negative impact on student learning. The recommendations emanating from the study support the idea of a shared responsibility between healthcare and education institutions and the focus is on preparing and equipping the student psychiatric nurses to confront, withstand and break the cycle of workplace violence. / Health Studies / M.A. (Nursing Science)

The purpose of the study was to explore and describe the lived experiences of general nurses working at Standerton hospital medical wards which also admit psychiatric patients. A qualitative, descriptive phenomenological approach was used for the study. The study population consisted of seven general nurses working in medical wards at Standerton hospital. Purposive sampling was used to select participants who met the inclusion criteria. Researcher used in-depth face to face interviews to collect data until data saturation was achieved. Tesch’s method of qualitative data analysis was utilised to identify themes. Three themes and five sub-themes emerged from the study: theme1: perceived danger due to aggression sub-themes stress for medical patients, stress for medical patients’ families and stress for nurses. Theme 2: lack of skills in dealing with psychiatric patients’ sub- theme use of restrains. Theme 3: self fulfilling prophecy subtheme reported incidences. The study findings demonstrate the plight of general nurses who are not trained to work with psychiatric patients but continue to do so. Findings further accentuate what is already known about the labelling that goes with psychiatric patients and aggression as a resultant effect. Recommendations were made for future research, policy makers, nursing education and practice. / M.A. (Health Studies)

Text in English / Little is known about the current practice of the nurse practising as an independent private practitioner in South Africa. There is also limited information available about his/her needs for establishing and maintaining a private practice. In this exploratory, descriptive study the AFFIRM model was applied and specific data regarding the practice and needs of the nurse in private practice was collected through a questionnaire. Based on the analysed data, it would appear that the majority of private nurse practitioners are married females and fall into the age group below 44 years. Although a variety of nursing services are offered, quality control appears to be minimal. It was found that private nurse practitioners have specific learning needs particularly regarding business management skills, quality control and current nursing practices. Recommendations were made for the maintenance of standards in private practices and the introduction of short courses for nurses in private practice. / Health Studies / M.A. (Nursing Science)

Descriptive surveys were employed to investigate the competencies of newly qualified nurses (NQNs) as viewed by senior professional nurses (SPNs). The study used questionnaires for collecting data. Questionnaires were delivered by the researcher and also collected by the researcher after completion. SPNs working at thirteen hospitals, that is, six in the former Gazankulu, three in the fonner Venda, and four in the form.er Lebowa health services (falling within the Northern Province of the RSA since April 1994) constituted the subjects of this study. Scientific sampling techniques were not employed as the total population of 396 SPNs was studied. This study obtained responses from 259 SPNs. Findings indicated that specific cognitive, affective and psychomotor competencies were expected ofNQNs upon entering the work setting, as perceived by SPNs. NQNs were perceived to be competent in performing numerous, but not all, clinical competencies which were outlined in the four groups' questionnaires. Application of stages of the nursing process (problem solving and clinical judgement), research, management and administration of a clinical unit, nursing ethics and critical care were perceived by the SPNs to be the central focus ofNQNs' incompetency in all four clinical nursing units, namely community, psychiatric, midwifery and general units. Nevertheless, SPNs were aware that they should provide guidance and support to NQNs. An attempt to elicit SPNs' views on the competencies NQNs should have in the practical situation, could benefit NQNs at grassroots level. Such information could provide curriculum developers with realistic input which would assist in the delineation and refinement of the professional competencies expected of nurses trained in the comprehensive course leading to registration as a nurse (general, psychiatric, and community) and midwife. The identified competencies could improve the quality of care and the nursing standards if they could be mastered by NQNs in the health services included in this research. On the basis of these research findings, the expected competencies, which were perceived by the SPNs to be incompetently performed by NQNs, were used to compile an orientation list of competencies to be mastered by NQNs in their first professional position (Annexure D). / Health Studies / D.Litt. et Phil. (Advanced Nursing Science)

The purpose of the study was to explore and describe the lived experiences of neophyte professional nurses working in ICU during their first year post graduation with the aim to discover strategies to support the nurse in critical care unit. An explorative, descriptive, interpretative qualitative design was conducted to uncover the nurse’s experiences. A purposive sampling was used which is based on belief that the researcher’s knowledge about the population can be used to hand pick sample elements. Data was collected through in-depth unstructured interviews and written narratives. Collaizi’s method of data analysis was used. The study findings revealed that neophyte professional nurses experienced difficulties and challenges in adjusting to the unit because of lack of mentors emanating from the shortage of staff. Nurses experienced mixed feelings regarding the relationship with colleagues in terms of support received. / Health Studies / M.A. (Health Studies)

The healthcare strike action that rocked South Africa in 2007 and 2010 highlighted the trend of professional nurses towards exercising their rights as employees to embark on strike actions, often also in solidarity with other categories of employees. This study aimed to highlight the problem brought about by the lack of proactive strategies to maintain a balance between human and professional rights and responsibilities of nurses within the legal framework of South Africa. The theoretical grounding of the study included both organisational change models and transformational leadership models. A descriptive and analytic design was followed, using both qualitative and quantitative non-probability sampling approaches to meet the research objectives of determining factors for nurses‘ involvement in strikes and their impact. Eighty professional nurses were included as the total sample of the study with 53 that did not participate in strike action and 27 that participated in strike action. A sample of eleven nurse managers was also included in the study to determine their views on strikes by nurses and their understanding of the changing work environment. To determine the overall impact of the nurses‘ strike, 40 healthcare consumers were included. The sample was selected from four provinces: Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal; Western Cape and Gauteng. The study was limited to professional nurses, nurse managers within the public-health sector and healthcare consumers using public-health facilities. The findings and the relevant literature referred to in this study indicate that though there are different reasons for strike action in the public-health sector by area or by country, remuneration is undoubtedly the most mentioned reason. Important to note is that salary per se is not the most critical actor but it is a tangible measure of the value that the employer places on people. In the absence of other incentives in the nursing environment, it becomes the focal point. However, addressing salary issues alone will not prevent strike action in the public-health sector / Health Studies / D. Litt. et Phil. (Health Studies)

South African palliative care volunteer caregivers play a crucial role in caring for people living with HIV and Aids, but frequently do not receive the support and respect that they deserve. The current study explored the psychosocial challenges and coping mechanisms of palliative care volunteer caregivers for people living with HIV and Aids. The researcher conducted in-depth interviews with 24 participants who also filled in questionnaires. The aim was to explore their experiences, their challenges, and coping mechanisms. Although these volunteer caregivers shared many positive experiences, they also faced multiple challenges in the workplace, their personal lives, financial challenges as well as psychological and emotional ones. Despite these challenges, the caregivers showed only moderate levels of stress on the stress scale. Recommendations for overcoming these challenges were provided to caregivers, organisations and the Department of Health / Psychology / M. Sc. (Psychology)

In today’s world healthcare all over the world is profoundly challenged by rapid technological advancements, violence, terrorism, diverse cultures, proliferating chronic diseases, and the worst nursing shortage. In addition to these complex and daunting challenges healthcare continue to focus the attention on hospitals to review and modify the way care is delivered to patients. As key role players and consistent members of the multidisciplinary team critical care nurses are uniquely positioned to modify and review the quality of patient care through synergy between the patients’ needs, the nurses’ competencies, and the critical care environment. A collaborative approach towards enhancing synergy in a CCU was undertaken in a CCU in a private hospital in Gauteng. The study was guided by the American Association for Critical Care Nurses Synergy Model for Patient Care and conducted within the critical social theory paradigm. The nature of the research was descriptive, explorative and contextual and both qualitative and quantitative approaches were used. Action research cycles were followed to assess existing synergy between the patients’ needs, the nurses’ competencies and the characteristics of the environment in the CCU. An action plan was formulated and implemented towards enhancing synergy in the CCU. The implemented plan was adjusted based on observations and reflections following each of the five cycles of the project / Health Studies / D. Litt. et Phil. (Health Studies)