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?...

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)

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)

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 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 English / The purpose of the study was to describe and explore the experiences of student nurses in caring for mental health users with profound intellectual disabilities in one of the care and rehabilitation centre at Gauteng province incorporating the Common Sense Model. Qualitative descriptive and explorative research was conducted to explore the experiences of student caring for mental health care users with profound intellectual disabilities and to recommend the best practices in caring for mental health care users with profound intellectual disabilities. Data collection was done using reflective diaries and in depth interviews. Twelve participants participated in the study. The study composed of student nurses (n=12) caring for mental health care users with profound intellectual disabilities. Five themes emerged from the study i.e. emotionally challenging, communication difficulties, lack of knowledge on the nature of intellectual disability, burden of care and mixed feelings. Findings of the study revealed that completing nurses find working with profound intellectual disabilities to be emotionally challenging and that negative experiences outweigh the positive experiences, resulting in their reluctance to want to work with profound intellectual disability users. It is therefore incumbent upon policy makers and hospital administrators to take cognisance of these negative feelings so that ways of minimising these frustrations and promoting the wellbeing of nurses caring for mental health care users with profound intellectual disabilities are promoted. / Health Studies / M.A. (Health Studies)

Text in English / The purpose of the study was to describe and explore the experiences of student nurses in caring for mental health users with profound intellectual disabilities in one of the care and rehabilitation centre at Gauteng province incorporating the Common Sense Model. Qualitative descriptive and explorative research was conducted to explore the experiences of student caring for mental health care users with profound intellectual disabilities and to recommend the best practices in caring for mental health care users with profound intellectual disabilities. Data collection was done using reflective diaries and in depth interviews. Twelve participants participated in the study. The study composed of student nurses (n=12) caring for mental health care users with profound intellectual disabilities. Five themes emerged from the study i.e. emotionally challenging, communication difficulties, lack of knowledge on the nature of intellectual disability, burden of care and mixed feelings. Findings of the study revealed that completing nurses find working with profound intellectual disabilities to be emotionally challenging and that negative experiences outweigh the positive experiences, resulting in their reluctance to want to work with profound intellectual disability users. It is therefore incumbent upon policy makers and hospital administrators to take cognisance of these negative feelings so that ways of minimising these frustrations and promoting the wellbeing of nurses caring for mental health care users with profound intellectual disabilities are promoted. / Health Studies / M.A. (Health Studies)

Recognising the enormous challenges in South Africa confronting the nursing of the mentally ill, the project was conducted in a public hospital in Gauteng. The purpose of the research was to describe professional nurses' perception of nursing mentally ill people in a general hospital setting and was carried out amongst a sample size of 124 professional nursing staff using a self-administered tool. The study looked at four different types of perceptions guided by categories of conceptual framework proposed by Mavundla (2000:1569-1570), namely perception of self, perception of patients, perception of environment and perceived feelings. The study found that the majority of professional nurses have a predominantly positive self- perception of nursing mentally ill people in a general hospital, although a significant number have a negative perception of patients, the nursing environment and perceived feelings. Lack of knowledge, skill and experience affect the nursing care of mentally ill people in the general hospital. / Health Studies / M.A. (Health Studies)

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)

Recognising the enormous challenges in South Africa confronting the nursing of the mentally ill, the project was conducted in a public hospital in Gauteng. The purpose of the research was to describe professional nurses' perception of nursing mentally ill people in a general hospital setting and was carried out amongst a sample size of 124 professional nursing staff using a self-administered tool. The study looked at four different types of perceptions guided by categories of conceptual framework proposed by Mavundla (2000:1569-1570), namely perception of self, perception of patients, perception of environment and perceived feelings. The study found that the majority of professional nurses have a predominantly positive self- perception of nursing mentally ill people in a general hospital, although a significant number have a negative perception of patients, the nursing environment and perceived feelings. Lack of knowledge, skill and experience affect the nursing care of mentally ill people in the general hospital. / Health Studies / M.A. (Health Studies)