The purpose of this study was to explore and describe the personal experiences of enrolled nurses while caring for patients infected with multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) in an urban tuberculosis hospital in KwaZulu-Natal province, South Africa. Generic qualitative research was conducted with a sample of purposively selected enrolled nurses who cared for MDR-TB patients. Data was collected through in-depth individual interviews and analysed using Colaizzi’s (1978) method of data analysis. The research findings revealed six major themes: the working context, fear of contracting the disease, problems that have an impact on the quality of nursing care, nurses' perceptions of the patients, support structures and nurses' expressed needs. The findings of this study indicate that the nurses work in a challenging environment and need to be supported, as they experience more negative than positive feelings while caring for these patients. / Health Studies / (M.A. (Health Studies))

Cardiopulmonary resuscitation is a skill that all registered nurses should maintain. In South Africa, a new healthcare trend towards accreditation in this skill is emerging. It is assumed that nurses are competent in cardiopulmonary resuscitation, but studies indicate a problem of poor retention ofboth knowledge and skills in this area. A non-experimental, quantitative, descriptive and contextual research project was undertaken with the aim of exploring the knowledge of cardiopulmonary resuscitation of registered nurses working in the wards of selected private hospitals in the Western Cape Peninsula. A convenience sample of thirty registered nurses completed a multiple-choice questionnaire. The questions in the questionnaire were derived from a literature review as well as the basic and advanced cardiopulmonary resuscitation algorithms. Analysis of the data indicated that the level of knowledge of cardiopulmonary resuscitation was inadequate particularly in the areas of medication and the rationale underlying interventions. Recommendations that were made included proposals that cardiopulmonary resuscitation training programmes be revised; and that employers ensure that registered nursing ,staff are formally trained on an annual basis. / Health Studies / M.A. (Nursing Science)

The purpose of this study was to explore the lived experiences of the newly qualified professional nurses in midwifery section doing community service. A qualitative descriptive, interpretative phenomenological research was conducted to determine the experiences. The sample included newly qualified professional nurses doing community service. Data collection was conducted by means of unstructured interviews from ten (n=10) informants. Each interview was approximately 45 minutes. Ethical issues were considered. Hussel and Heidergadian’s data analysis steps were followed. Four (4) themes and eleven (11) sub-themes emerged from the data collected. The findings revealed that the newly qualified professional nurses were in a state of reality shock, demonstrated by challenges such as shortage of human and material resources; overcrowding; lack of support; and the placement of Midwifery Nursing Science in the curriculum has impacted negatively on midwives’ registration as professional nurses. Based on the current practical nursing education environment and further research, this study concludes by presenting its recommendations and limitations. / Health Studies / M. A. (Health Studies)

Text in Afrikaans / 'n Opname is onder verpleegkundiges in diens van geselekteerde hospitale onderneem ten einde te bepaal watter ondersteuningstelsels tans in die hospitale vir verpleegkundiges beskikbaar is. Daar is ook bepaal hoe effektief hierdie ondersteuningstelsels benut word, en indien nie waarom nie en ten laaste of ondersteuningstelsels as 'n vereiste fasiliteit gesien word. Die leemtes betreffende ondersteuningstelsels in hierdie hospitale is ge·identifiseer, soos die gebrek van verpleegbestuur om outokratiese en burokratiese bestuurstyle met deelnemende bestuurstyle te vervang. Daar bestaan ook leemtes in ondersteuning by die beplanning van verpleegsorg, wat moontlik toegeskryf kan word aan verpleegbestuur se swak deelname en betrokkenheid by verpleegsorgbeplanning. Aanbevelings is geformuleer om hierdie leemtes aan te spreek. Tydens orientering behoort alle nuwe personeel ingelig te word oor die hospitaalbeleid, sodat doelstellings gesamentlik beplan kan word. Die funksie van bestuur en hulle bydrae tot personeelondersteuning behoort deel van die orienteringsprogram te vorm / A survey to establish which support systems are at present available to nurses, was undertaken in selected hospitals. It was determined how effective these support systems have been utilised, and if not, why not and whether the support systems were seen as an essential facility. The failure of nursing management to replace autocratic and burocratic management styles with participative management styles is a deficiency in the support systems of these hospitals. There is also a need for support in the planning of nursing care. This can possibly be due to the nurse manager's poor participation and involvement in the planning of nursing care. Recommendations were formulated to address these needs. During orientation all new personnel should be informed of hospital policy to enable them to plan collectively, to accomplish objectives. The functions of management and their contribution towards personnel ought to form part of the orientation programme / Agriculture & Environmental Sciences / M.A. (Verpleegkunde)

South African nurses have accepted the challenge that was brought about by the Health Reform Policy of 1990 which opened health service centres to people of all racial and cultural groups. However, recent studies on multicultural nursing have revealed that problems have occurred when delivering care across cultural barriers. Most of these studies have approached these problems from the patients point of view, where issues of dehumanized care, labelling and discrimination have been reported. Therefore, this study was an attempt to look into these problems from the nurses point of view, by exploring the source of these problems, their effect on health care delivery and possible solutions. The researcher focussed on three critical issues, namely, lack of cultural knowledge, negative attitudes, as well as difficulty in communication. Through focus group interviews (FGI) and responses to given scenarios, student nurses who had experienced problems with culturally different patients were given a chance to reflect on their experiences, report on these experiences and recommend possible solutions to the experienced problems. The results revealed that: 1. The major source of the problems was lack of experience due to inadequate exposure to culturally diverse groups which in tum led to inappropriate decisions and actions at care delivery level. 2.Difficult perceptions and negative attitudes lead to the formation of stereotypes which block the delivery of culturally congruent care. 3 .Inability to communicate due to differences in spoken language lead to difficulty in building the trust relationship and hence inadequate care delivery. / Health Studies / M.A. (Nursing Science)

This study explored and described the impact of the rights and obligations of nurses on the delivery of quality patient care in a clinical setting. Quantitative research approach was utilised. Data was collected using a self-administered questionnaire. The research results revealed that respondents who participated in this study were aware of their rights and obligations, the effects and impact of factors influencing such rights and obligations on patient care. It was established that “patient abandonment” observed when nurses embark on a strike as their constitutionally enshrined right is not due to a lack of insight about their rights and obligations, but on how such rights and obligations are implemented. The researcher recommends that further research be undertaken to explore the causes of nurses embarking on strike actions despite their high level of knowledge concerning the impact of such actions on patient care in a clinical setting / Health Studies / M.A. (Health Studies)

The purpose of the study was to explore the perceptions of professional nurses on student mentorship. A qualitative, explorative, hermeneutic phenomenological research was conducted to determine the meaning of mentoring as perceived by professional nurses and to identify the successes and challenges encountered by professional nurses with regard to student mentorship during clinical practice. A face-to-face semi-structured interviews were done to collect data from operational managers (n=16) who were managing all unit activities, student mentoring included. Each interview lasted for ± 45 minutes. A hermeneutic data analysis (hermeneutic circle) was followed for data analysis. Four (4) themes and 15 sub-themes emerged from data collected from operational managers. The findings revealed that mentoring was perceived as a valuable phenomenon to apply in the preparation of student nurses for future professional role. In the process of mentoring, the caring attitude is revealed. Factors found to drive mentoring process successful was amongst other commitment, interest and partnership which guarantee the mutual efforts to the process. Though it is beneficial to mentor, mentee and the organisation as according to findings, challenges were also seen impacting on this process limiting its intentions / Health Studies / M.A. (Health Studies)

Thesis (MCur (Nursing Science))--University of Stellenbosch, 2008. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Clinical teaching and training is undertaken to correlate theory and practice (Mellish et al., 1998:211). Clinical teaching is the means by which student nurses learn to apply the theory of nursing in a clinical situation so that an integration of theoretical knowledge and practical skills in the clinical situation becomes the art and science of nursing. (Mellish et al., 1998:207). The role of the lecturer/facilitator is to bridge the theory-practice gap between nursing education and practice. Since the merger of the nursing colleges in the Eastern Cape Province (South Africa) and the abolishment of the clinical department in the hospital it became essential to evaluate the clinical facilitation needs of students and tutors. For the purpose of this study the researcher evaluated the clinical facilitation, with the focus area being on the clinical needs and problems of nursing tutors and nursing students at a nursing college in the Eastern Cape Province. The objectives of this study were to determine the following: the clinical facilitation needs of student nurses of the Nursing College, clinical facilitation needs of tutors of the Nursing College, clinical facilitation related problems facing student nurses and tutors in the Nursing College and associations between the clinical facilitation of the campuses of the Nursing College. The following research question was evaluated: What are the needs and problems of nursing students and tutors in clinical facilitation at the Lilitha Nursing College? The research methodology was a descriptive exploratory design with a quantitative approach. The population for this study was the fourth-year nursing students, and all tutors of the nursing college. A convenient sample was drawn. All students available at the time of data collection were included in the study. A structured questionnaire was used to collect the data. The final sample of students was N =100 (45%) of a total population of 222 students. The final sample of tutors was N=35 (36%) of a population of 97. Reliability and validity were assured by means of a pilot study and the use of experts in nursing education, research methodology and statistics. Data were collected personally by the researcher. Ethical approval was obtained from Stellenbosch University, Department of Health ECP, and Head of the Nursing College and Principals of the campuses. Informed written consent was obtained from the participants. Statistical associations with reference to clinical facilitation between the various campuses of the nursing college were determined using the Chi-square tests. The results of this study are presented in percentages, tables and histograms. On completion of the study the following recommendations were made: standardization of policies and procedures; preplanning and publishing of clinical placement dates; manuals, rules, student needs and outcomes be available before clinical placement; improvement of communication between clinical staff, facilitators and students; improvement of infrastructure, equipment and materials.

Dissertation submitted in fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree in Masters of Technology: Nursing, Durban University of Technology, 2011. / Background Working in the intensive care unit can be traumatic for nursing personnel. Critical care nurses are faced with repeated exposure to death and dying as they are involved in caring for patients who are actively dying or who have been told that they have a terminal illness and are faced with the possibility of impending death. Critical care nurses relate in different ways to the phenomena of death and dying within their nursing profession and their scope of practice. These nurses often have a difficult time coping with the stress that comes with caring for those who are dying or relating to loved ones of those that are dying. Aim of the study The aim of the study was to explore the critical care nurse’s experiences of death and dying. Methodology A qualitative, descriptive phenomenological approach was used to guide the study. Four nurses were recruited and rich descriptions of their experiences were gained through individual face-to-face interviews. One broad question was asked: ‘What are your experiences regarding death and dying of your patients in ICU?’ iii Results The findings of this study revealed that issues such as communication, multicultural diversity, education and coping mechanisms relating to caring for the critically ill and dying patient are essential in nursing education and practice. Critical care nurses need to have support networks in place, not only to assist in providing care, but also for their own emotional support / M

Dissertation submitted in partial compliance with the requirements for the Master's Degree of Technology: Nursing, Technikon Natal, 2002. / The Integrated Management of Childhood Illness (IMCI) is an approach that aims to reduce the mortality and morbidity in children under the age of five years. When this programme was initiated, the conditions targeted were acute respiratory infections, diarrhoea, fevers associated with malaria and measles and malnutrition. As a result of the HIV pandemic in South Africa, the identification of children who are symptomatic of HIV infection was included. This study evaluates the use of the HIV portion of the IMCI algorithm by nurses in selected, public sector, primary health clinics in KwaZulu Natal. IMCI nurses were observed as they used the IMCI approach while consulting with sick children. Data was collected in relation to the accuracy with which the nurses used the algorithm and the extent to which the HIV portion of the algorithm was used to guide their management decisions when consulting with the children. Seventy-two observations were undertaken. In-depth interview were conducted with 13 IMCI nurses to establish factors that influenced the use of the HIV portion of the algorithm. The study showed a poor level of accuracy when using the HIV portion of the algorithm. In addition, as a result of poor accuracy when using the algorithm to assess and classify for symptomatic HIV infection, it appeared that nurses were not using the HIV portion of the algorithm to guide management decisions regarding children who were possibly symptomatic of HIV infection. I A general poor level of knowledge about HIV infection was identified which the researcher felt could be one of the factors influencing the use of the HIV portion of the algorithm. Death anxiety, low level of counselling skills and burnout also seemed to play some role in the use of the HIV portion of the algorithm.Recommendations were made to adapt future training of IMCI nurses and include an HIV training course and a course on growth monitoring of children in this age group. Further recommendations to continually evaluate the practice of nurses were made. Future areas for research were suggested. / M