Improvement of patient care in any hospital depends primarily on the quality of nursing care. Nursing care is enhanced by the nursing process, which outlines the nursing activities to be provided for a patient. The purpose of this study was to determine to what extent the nursing process could improve the quality of nursing care, and to explore the knowledge limitations of nursing staff in implementing the nursing process, nursing care planning and proper documentation. Quantitative research, making use of an exploratory, descriptive and contextual design was conducted, utilising a structured questionnaire for data collection. Registered nurses (n=120) employed at a Referral Hospital in Tanzania served as the respondents. The findings revealed a lack of knowledge in understanding and applying the concepts of the nursing process, especially in formulating the nursing diagnosis. Recommendations pertaining to a focused in-service training programme, integrating theory and practice, were made to enhance the effective implementation of the nursing process. / Health Studies / MA (Health Studies)

Improvement of patient care in any hospital depends primarily on the quality of nursing care. Nursing care is enhanced by the nursing process, which outlines the nursing activities to be provided for a patient. The purpose of this study was to determine to what extent the nursing process could improve the quality of nursing care, and to explore the knowledge limitations of nursing staff in implementing the nursing process, nursing care planning and proper documentation. Quantitative research, making use of an exploratory, descriptive and contextual design was conducted, utilising a structured questionnaire for data collection. Registered nurses (n=120) employed at a Referral Hospital in Tanzania served as the respondents. The findings revealed a lack of knowledge in understanding and applying the concepts of the nursing process, especially in formulating the nursing diagnosis. Recommendations pertaining to a focused in-service training programme, integrating theory and practice, were made to enhance the effective implementation of the nursing process. / Health Studies / M.A. (Health Studies)

This dissertation reports on the findings of a qualitative, exploratory, descriptive and contextual study into the health beliefs and practices of urban Pares, living in Moshi, Kilimanjaro Region, in Tanzania. The study utilised aspects of the transcultural nursing framework. Semi-structured interviews were used for data gathering with a sample of nine urban Pare informants. Data were analysed thematically. The major findings indicate that health beliefs arise from magico-religious, holistic and scientific paradigms. It was also found that beliefs and behaviour patterns are changing. These findings are discussed in terms of the two major themes, namely, multiple world views and change and continuity. Recommendations arising from the findings are made which may assist health workers to provide culturally congruent care. / Health Studies / (M.A. (Health Studies))

This dissertation reports on the findings of a qualitative, exploratory, descriptive and contextual study into the health beliefs and practices of urban Pares, living in Moshi, Kilimanjaro Region, in Tanzania. The study utilised aspects of the transcultural nursing framework. Semi-structured interviews were used for data gathering with a sample of nine urban Pare informants. Data were analysed thematically. The major findings indicate that health beliefs arise from magico-religious, holistic and scientific paradigms. It was also found that beliefs and behaviour patterns are changing. These findings are discussed in terms of the two major themes, namely, multiple world views and change and continuity. Recommendations arising from the findings are made which may assist health workers to provide culturally congruent care. / Health Studies / (M.A. (Health Studies))