A substantial amount of international research exists examining the impact of HIV/AIDS on health care workers. However, the impact of HIV/AIDS on nursing staff in South Africa has been relatively neglected. The primary objective of this study was to examine the impact of the AIDS pandemic on the subjective work experiences of peri-urban nurses in South Africa. The study explored the relationship between external changes in the nurses' working environment and their internal psychological responses for negotiating this change. A focus group of eight nurses was conducted, followed by indepth individual interviews with three group members. A grounded theory method was utilised to process and analyse the data. The research showed that nurses experience two forms of change. It was suggested that nurses respond to external changes in a manner designed to maximise their control and sense of meaning in an unpredictable environment. This accommodation involves the restoration of an internal psychological equilibrium through a process of balancing positive and negative experiences. The attainment of such an acceptable equilibrium may allow for diminished stress, increased satisfaction or fulfilment and the validation of personal and professional significance.

Thesis submitted in fulfillment of the requirements for the degree Master of Technology: Nursing In the Faculty of Health and Wellness Sciences at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology 2014 / Diabetes is one of the major non-communicable diseases in South Africa (SA) and in 2008, 6.4 percent of the South African population was reported by Frost and Sullivan to have diabetes (Business Wire, 2008). Furthermore, the prevalence of diabetes in South Africans between the ages of 20 and 70 had been predicted to rise from 3.4% to 3.9% by the year 2025 (Rheeder, 2006:20). There is no clear assessment of the amount of nursing care Occupational Health Nursing Practitioners (OHNPs) provide to diabetic employees in SA. From working experience of the researcher, employees with diabetes were absent from work more often due to poor glucose control than other workers with chronic health conditions. The increasing levels of absenteeism had financial impact on the diabetic employees, other workers, and industry. Therefore, OHNPs working in industries and organizations must have the appropriate knowledge to ensure that workers with diabetes are screened, monitored, and managed effectively in the workplace. The aim of the study is to assess the knowledge and practices of OHNPs in managing diabetes in workplaces in SA. The objectives of the study are firstly, to explore the extent of knowledge and practices of OHNPs regarding screening for diabetes in the workplace; secondly, to describe knowledge and practices of OHNPs regarding monitoring of diabetes in the workplace; and thirdly, to examine the knowledge and practices of OHNPs in management of diabetes in the workplace. Quantitative survey design was selected to focus the study and inform on the data collection tool. The population was all the OHNPs that were members of the South African Society of Occupational Health Nurse Practitioners (SASOHN) and registered on the SASOHN database. SASOHN Executive Office granted permission for use of the database. Ethical approval for the study was obtained from the University Research and Ethics Committee. The sample included all the members of SASOHN that had access to emails. The researcher developed an electronic self-administered questionnaire based on the 2009 American Diabetic Association position statement. The questionnaire contained both closed and open-ended questions which were grouped under specific sections. The questionnaire was emailed to participants accompanied by an invitation to participate and an informed consent form. Results: due to the complexity of industries and factories that OHNPs are employed in, the organisations were divided into eight categories. About 45% of respondents rated their knowledge of diabetes management as either good or average, 55% rated their knowledge of screening as good, 44% rated their knowledge of diabetes management as good and only 7% as very good. Only 51% of OHNPs routinely screened workers for diabetes. The majority of the OHNPs indicated that the Fasting Blood Glucose (FBG) was the diagnostic test they used to diagnose diabetes, which is the preferred test. Between 73 -85% of OHNPs indicated that each of the suggested five aspects of immediate care were performed after diagnosis Conclusions: OHNPs consider their knowledge on different aspects of diabetes to be average to good, however, lack of knowledge on types of diabetes, and some gaps identified regarding the tests for screening and diagnosis of diabetes, are cause for concern. Most OHNPs that participated in the study use different approaches to conduct diabetes awareness initiatives to promote health amongst their employees. There is a gap in OHNPs’ practice of screening for diabetes as well as in their knowledge. The lack of knowledge of the OHNPs that used the Oral Glucose Tolerance Test (OGTT) or other tests is cause for concern. Amongst most respondents the five aspects of care necessary after diagnosis of DM were performed. Recommendations: firstly, a strategy should be developed to encourage males to specialise in occupational health nursing. Secondly, a vigorous marketing strategy must be promoted to inform career guidance teachers on how to attract new applicants to the nursing profession and to promote nursing as a career of choice. Thirdly, the number of nurses trained in occupational health nursing and practising as OHNPs should be determined to assess professional developmental needs. Fourthly, additional research ought to be conducted to determine OHNPs’ actual knowledge of crucial aspects of diabetes and diabetes management. A standard/guideline could be developed to ensure that OHNPs have points of reference, and continuous training and professional development programmes on screening and diagnosing of diabetes should be established. There must be an investigation into constraints that OHNPs are faced with when implementing health promotion in the workplace as well as to determine the impact of such health promotion initiatives on the employees. OHNPs should be informed about the immediate care that needs to be performed on diagnosis of diabetes to improve their knowledge base and to motivate them to change their practice to provide a solid basis for continuity of care and management of newly diagnosed clients. Suggestions for further research: research on the effect of screening programmes in the occupational health setting to diagnose diabetics and the follow up care that is given. More research is required on how much monitoring and supervision is being conducted by OHNPs in the workplace.

Thesis (MTech (Human Resource Management))--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2015. / Occupational challenges exist in all working environments, and affect all levels of organisational personnel from top management to employee levels. State hospitals in South Africa place occupational demands mainly upon registered nurses who make up most of the hospital staff. The focus of the research investigation concentrated mainly on a population of three groups of registered nurses at a state hospital in Cape Town. They are staff nurses, professional nurses and enrolled nursing assistants. These nurses are experiencing a decline in morale, due to staff shortages, a lack of resources and a perceived lack of leadership. They experience various levels of stress, which affect their personal health and morale. The objective of the research was to analyse the impact on the state registered nurses of three main contributors of occupational challenges faced by these nurses, namely a lack of resources, staff shortages and a perceived lack of good leadership. The nurses are employed to provide quality care for patients in state hospitals.

Thesis (MTech (Nursing))--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2008. / In South Africa the need for palliative care for the terminally ill is exacerbated by the upsurge of the HIV/AIDS epidemic resulting in more patients being in need of palliative care and the provision of effective pain management as part of providing them with palliative care. Effective pain management requires sound knowledge of the pathophysiology of pain and its treatment. Research found the attitudes, beliefs, and knowledge of healthcare professionals regarding pain management impact significantly on how these professionals practice pain control measures of the terminally ill. Despite the increase in knowledge and technological advances people still die in pain. The upsurge of cancer and AIDS cases require that all nursing practitioners be competent to deliver palliative care. Effective pain management is an integral part of palliative care. South Africa has a nurse-driven health care system where Registered Nurses are expected to become competent in among other health care issues, to manage pain in the increasing numbers of terminally ill patients due to especially AIDS epidemic.

Submitted in fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree in Masters of Technology in Nursing, Durban University of Technology, Durban, South Africa, 2015. / INTRODUCTION Globally, the use of alternative therapies by the public as well as healthcare workers has been widely documented. In South Africa, no studies have been done on alternative therapies specifically related to nurses. The vast amount of media attention with regards to alternative therapies related to the positive and negative outcomes has sparked major interest in this topic. The aim of the study was to determine the perceptions of professional nurses at nine hospitals within the uMgungundlovu District, South Africa, towards alternative therapies in a nursing context. OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY The objectives of the study were to determine the professional nurses’ perceptions as well as knowledge of alternative therapies. The possible barriers in providing alternative therapies in nursing practice was also explored in order to make recommendations to guide professional nurses with regard to alternative therapies in patient care. METHODOLOGY A quantitative exploratory research approach underpinned this study. A survey questionnaire was used to obtain information from professional nurses who had consented to participate. The total population of professional nurses was 1218. A total of 616 questionnaires were distributed to participants at the nine participating hospitals. Three hundred and eighty six (386) questionnaires were returned, which resulted in a 63% response rate. FINDINGS It was evident from the data that professional nurses used various forms of alternative therapies. The results revealed that almost 69% (n=265) used prayer/spiritual healing, followed by 53.9% (n=207) who used nutritional supplements, whilst 51.9% (n=199) used music therapy. Participants rated their satisfaction on the information received regarding alternative therapies in nursing education as follows: prayer/spiritual healing 71.1% (n=271), nutritional supplements 71.7% (n=273), music therapy 57.9% (n=220), massage therapy 46.7% (n=216) and support groups 80.3% (n=306). About two thirds (n=272) felt that alternative therapies was beneficial rather than a threat to patient’s health. However, 60% (n=229) agreed that the use of alternative therapies that were not tested in a scientific manner should be discouraged. More than 80% (n=313) of the sample thought that health professionals should have the ability to advise patients in the clinical setting about the most commonly used alternative therapies. More than half of the sample (n=254) stated that they did encounter patients in the clinical setting who enquired about alternative therapies. Only 39.6% (n=153) stated that they felt confident to advise patients about alternative therapies, whilst 26.7% (n=103) stated that they were unable to do so. As the evidence base for the use of alternative therapies grows, so too does the demand increases for the integration of alternative therapies in nursing education. Nurses being the patient’s advocate need to be well versed regarding the use and safety aspects of alternative therapies. / M

M.Cur. (Nursing Science) / The primary objective of this study was to determine the emotional intelligence (EI) of, and make recommendations to facilitate an improvement in the EI of professional nurses commencing work in critical care units in private hospitals in Gauteng, South Africa. The quality of nursing care directly affects patient outcomes such as morbidity, mortality, adverse events as well as the total cost of care. This places the nurse central in good, comprehensive health care, especially in the critical care environment. Professional nurses starting in critical care consistently experience feelings of anxiety regarding their performance, related to the intensity of patient care, insufficient knowledge, extreme workload, role uncertainty, the feeling of being unsafe, making mistakes, having to work with new technology, as well as social acceptance in critical care with its unique working culture. Emotional labour is a big part of critical care, which leads us to explore emotional intelligence. Emotional intelligence (EI) is the ability to monitor one’s own and others’ feelings, to discriminate among them, and to use this information to guide one’s thinking and actions. It also refers to the ability to identify, express, understand and regulate emotions. Though emotional skills are learnt during childhood, it can also be developed and changed later in life with age, experience and good role models or mentors. Nurses with a higher EI have more positive attitudes, greater adaptability, improved relationships, and increased orientation towards positive values. The question that arose was: what is the emotional intelligence of professional nurses starting in critical care for the first time?...

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.

Magister Curationis - MCur / A survey of the literature revealed that althougth a great deal of research has been carried out relating to stress and coping internationally, little has been written about nurses in South Africa. The aim of this study was to identify the possible causes and frequency of stress experienced by registered nurses working in a hospital, to identify the coping strategies used, to assess the relationship between stress and coping mechanisms of registered nurses, to compare stress and adopted coping strategies among registered nurses in the different units/wards, to identify the support systems that minimize stress and to address stress amongst nurses in South Africa. / South Africa

The substandard care noted and reported on in midwifery practice at level one midwifery care institutions in South Africa raises a concern about the effectiveness of the assessment strategies used at nursing institutions in enhancing midwifery programme outcomes. The concern is mainly directed particularly at the performance of the newly qualified professional nurses as they are the ones that practise at level one institutions, had just gone through training and been found to be competent practitioners. The success of any training programme and specifically midwifery practice as in the content of this study is dependent on the effectiveness of the assessment techniques or strategies used; hence assessment is considered integral to monitoring the quality of the midwifery care programme. The current study used a quantitative research design to explore and describe the role of assessments in enhancing midwifery programme outcomes at a public nursing education institution in the Eastern Cape Province. Recommendations to enhance the role of assessments for the benefit of midwifery programme outcomes at a public nursing education institution that were made were guided by the findings of the study. Participants were non-randomly selected and were personally provided with a self-developed questionnaire to complete. 134 participants returned fully completed questionnaires while approximately 25% of the selected sample did not return theirs. Data was captured on an excel spread sheet and analysed using Cronbach’s alpha programme under the guidance of the statistician and supervisor. Findings of the study were that: • the participants perceived the role of assessments as positively enhancing the midwifery programme outcomes, • though they also agreed and strongly agreed that there were major factors that prevented enhancement of midwifery programme outcomes. Ethical considerations were autonomy, beneficence, justice and non-maleficence. The validity and reliability of the data- collection instrument was ensured. Furthermore, recommendations were made for nursing education, clinical practice and future research. The study was conducted during the period of July 2014 to January 2016.