An exploratory retrospective study conducted on two differing educational programmes, both of which were for the diploma in community health nursing. The aims of the study were: i) To propose a conceptual framework in order to compare distance learning programmes in community health nursing. ii) To describe and compare two such programmes based on this framework: one content-based and the other community / problem based. The research design used case study methodology, after the development of a model for the education of professional nurses which was derived from literature. The constructs of the model were used as propositions in a case study protocol. The four constructs were each made up of two elements and each element consisted of the poles of a continuum by which that feature in a programme could be identified. The constructs were: a) The Conceptual Programme which included the elements of Base and Structure; Base being either institution or community and structure either content or process. b) The Student with elements of Professional or Personal attributes. Professional attributes were either empowered or disempowered and personal either self directing or passive. c) The Context which had Components and Relationships as elements. The former comprised either limited formal health services or all-embracing health related sectors, whilst the latter specified relationships would either be seen as linkages with unilateral formal communications or partnerships where collegial relations impacted on both parties involved. d) The Concrete Resources included both human and material resources. Human resources were either limited or additional and material either limited or varied. Application of the Conceptual Programme analysis demonstrated that programme A was institution and content based whilst programme B was community / problem (process) based. Programme documentation and student assignment and projects were analyzed in terms of the remaining three constructs. An interview with a tutor for each programme followed after they had read the case reports. A third interview was then held with a key person who had overseen both programmes and read case and interview reports in order to validate both content and the use of the model as framework for analysis. The following trends emerged: i) The content programme was associated with more disempowered and passive students as those were defined in this study. ii) The content programme also used more limited formal health sector settings for learning and in this linkage type relationships dominated although three instances of partnerships did occur, and some community based groups were used by students. iii) The content programme used one tutor per contact session for lectures with students and, cost, in 1991 currency, R150 per student to deliver. iv) The community / problem based programme showed a stronger trend to empowered and self directing students with several clear instances being documented. v) There was a greater variety of settings used for learning in this programme. vi) Several instances of partnership relationships occurred despite the limited contact time between students and communities or health settings. vii) The community / problem-based programme needed two facilitators per contact session at a cost of R1130 (1991) as small group discussions were the main strategy for learning. viii) Student evaluations of both programmes showed that students viewed them in much the same way despite the differences that were found. This indicates that student evaluations on their own provided insufficient evidence about the nature of a programme. ix) The community / problem based programme cost about 20% more to deliver than the content programme out of a total expenditure of R186 000 (1991 value). x) The model was revised to collapse professional and personal attributes into one element and to add another element 'metacognition' to the construct student. 'Access' was also recommended as an additional construct with elements of barriers and supports. This new model needs to be tested and reviewed by peers. The revised model for the education of professional nurses could be a useful yardstick for evaluating existing educational programmes, selecting newly proposed programmes and guiding policy formation. / Thesis (Ph.D.)-University of Natal, Durban, 1995.

An extensive review of literature revealed that although CBE was a familiar concept and a national policy for health professionals' education in South Africa, there was, however, limited understanding of this phenomenon. Most of the existing CBE programmes were a reaction to the inadequacy of traditional nursing education and had emerged without any intellectual discourse on the phenomenon CBE. The aim of this study was to analyse the phenomenon CBE in basic nursing education and the meaning attached to it. Furthermore, the researcher aimed at developing a middle-range theory of CBE. Strauss and Corbin's (1990) grounded theory approach was used to guide the research process. The South African Nursing Council's (SANC) education committee and seven nursing education institutions with CBE programmes were included for participation in the study. Data were collected by means of observation, interviews and document analysis. Purposive and theoretical sampling was used for selecting interviewees, resulting in a total of 41 interviewees. Data collection and initial analysis took place concurrently. Descriptive analysis followed by conceptual analysis was performed using Strauss and Corbin's paradigm for qualitative data analysis. The primacy of the community as a learning environment, timing of first exposure, duration, frequency and sequencing of community-based learning experiences, as well as service provision, emerged as discriminatory core characteristics of CBE in basic nursing education. Irrelevance of traditional nursing education and political change emerged as antecedents of CBE. The need to respond to national health policies and community health needs was seen as conditions under which CBE had to operate in South Africa. The nature of the CBE educative process, which placed emphasis on active learning and curriculum relevance, emerged as essential for the realization of expected outcomes of CBE in basic nursing education. Based on these results, it was concluded that CBE in basic nursing education in South Africa is (a) relevant education, (b) responsive education, (c) education for social justice, (d) a conscious and deliberate PHC socialisation process and (e) a process and outcomes education. As this was a ground breaking study on the meaning of CBE in basic nursing education in South Africa, a number of further research studies are recommended. / Thesis (Ph.D.)-University of Natal, Durban, 2003.

Background: Literature on postgraduate student throughput and success suggests a mismatch between registration, throughput and success rates among postgraduate students. Purpose of the Study: This study aimed at exploring and describing mechanisms used to increase throughput and success rates in Postgraduate Nursing Programmes at the University of KwaZulu-Natal. Conceptual Framework: The theoretical framework used in this study was derived from Tinto's proposed Theory ofInstitutional Action (2005). This theory is based on the assumption that learners' behaviour which is manifested in persistence or departure is never fully understood because only the act of leaving or staying is observed, not the underlying intentions behind the action. Research Methodology: Using a mixed methods paradigm, the whole target population of 83 participants was sampled for the quantitative aspect and 2 focus groups each consisting about 12 participants for the qualitative aspect were used. Data were collected using a questionnaire and an interview guide. Descriptive statistics and were used for quantitative data, while thematic content analysis was used for qualitative data. Results: This study revealed that the support mechanisms for increasing student throughput and success rates are structured in three phases: the pre-enrolment phase, the integration phase, and the engagement phase. During the pre-enrolment phase, support is offered in form of information to help students understand what is expected of them, inform students about the programmes offered, the cost of the programmes, duration of the programs and the available support services. During the integration phase, the support provided includes guidance about the registration process, information about programmes and disciplines offered, counselling regarding curriculum design, modules to select and required credits for completion, orientation, and helping international students with visa extension with repatriation issues. During the engagement phase, the support provided includes academic, psychosocial and financial services. Facilitating factors reported include: student interaction with academic staff to monitor and provide feedback, a responsive curriculum to learning needs through the teaching and assessments methods utilised, active student involvement, personal effort, prior learning and working experience, and enough learning resources. Barriers reported were inadequate information, insufficiency of student-lecturer interaction time, unsuitable psychosocial support for adult learners, lack of mentorship and academic advising services, lack of time to participate in co-curricular activities, limited time for studying, ineffective use of learning resources, and language barrier. Recommendations: The study revealed a need to provide a balance mixture the available support mechanisms because academic support dominated the support services offered. Findings also showed the necessity to adapt the psychosocial support to the needs of all categories of students including adult postgraduate students. / Thesis (M.N.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2010.

The purpose of the study was to examine students' perceptions of frequency of clinical teacher behaviors and whether those perceptions change by class level. The theoretical framework for the study was Bevis' paradigm of curriculum revolution.In 1993, Marilyn Simons, DNS gathered data from nursing students enrolled in clinical nursing courses at a Midwestern university. The convenience sample totaled 88 (100%). The data was not analyzed or reported. The current study was a retrospective analysis of that data.Findings of the study showed that students perceived faculty as demonstrating professional competence and interpersonal relationship behaviors in the clinical setting. No significant differences were found in these perceptions by class level on either then total scale or on the subscales.The conclusion from the study was that faculty at this particular university are perceived as practicing emancipatory education as proposed by Bevis. It was also concluded that faculty perform at the same level of competency and use similar approaches without regard to class level, and that students perceived that faculty related to them in similar ways across classes.The study was significant because it helps nurse educators understand the student perspective of clinical teacher behavior. The Clinical Teacher Behavior Tool used in the study could be used to help design a cooperative clinical learning model different from the traditional education approach and in accordance with Bevis' paradigm. / School of Nursing

D.Cur. / The higher education, nursing education and health care context has been shifting its focus into community development. This shift is being influenced by the constitutional framework of the country, South Africa, which is putting more emphasis in all sectors on addressing community needs. The focus is not only on community development, but on participatory development. On the one hand, the Nursing Education Institution (NEI) is faced with the challenge of addressing the education and the health care needs of the community. On the other hand, the community context is also undergoing a paradigm shift, that of striving for self-sufficiency. Purpose and objectives: To address the education, health and community development needs, the NEI and the community require a goal-oriented partnership. To date it is not clear in the literature, how a partnership should take place. The needs and expectations of stakeholders in the partnership have not yet been explored. What has been written about community academic partnerships indicates that partnerships that existed were not true partnerships. Academic-community partnerships that exist usually portray academic institutions as owners of knowledge from which the community may benefit. It was therefore necessary to explore and describe the nature and structure of what stakeholders would consider as quality partnerships. The aim of this study was to develop a model for partnership between the NEI and the community and to develop standards against which the partnership could be evaluated. The following objectives were set according to the phases of the study:

Thesis (MCurr)--Stellenbosch University, 2013. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Background: Research supervision forms an essential part of higher education. The emergence of global trends in the production and dissemination of knowledge is compelling universities and university of technologies in South Africa to become more market-orientated, competitive and entrepreneurial. The supervision process is vital to successful completion of the research component of master’s degrees and consequently increase throughput in higher education. Successful and meaningful supervision contribute largely to mutual satisfaction and professional development between supervisors and students. Good supervision should be an integral component of quality research governance. Objective: The aim of this study was to explore research supervision needs and experiences of the master’s students in nursing. Methodology: A descriptive phenomenological research design was used with a qualitative research approach. A non-probability, purposive sampling method was used to select respondents in this study. The target population includes all nursing science master’s students enrolled at University of Stellenbosch in the past three years (N=109). A sample size of twelve students was included in the study, whereby all twelve face to face interviews were conducted using the semi-structured interview guide. The inclusion criterium for students was that they were all currently registered students who initially enrolled for the Masters in Nursing degree program between 2008 and 2010 in the division of Nursing at Stellenbosch University. Results: Eight themes arose from the interviews. These included: isolation; lack of skills/ time management; family dynamics/personal circumstances; supervisor support; student and supervisor roles and responsibilities; workplace dynamics and support; financial and institutional support and implications; and motivation to complete studies. Conclusions: Successful completion of research undertaken on postgraduate level and supervision at a master’s level depend on a healthy and productive relationship between the supervisor and the student. Exploring and implementing the guidance and suggestions in this paper will assist students in considering supervision preferences. This in turn will result in achieving a good supervisory relationship which is the key to successful master studies. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Agtergrond: Navorsing toesighouding vorm ‘n belangrike deel van hoer onderwys. Die opkomende wêreldtendense in die toename en verspreiding van kennis verplig Resultate: Ag temas het vanuit die onderhoude voortgespruit. Dit het ingesluit: isolasie; gebrek aan vaardighede/tydsbestuur; familie-dinamika/persoonlike omstandighede; ondersteuning van toesighouer; rolle van student en toesighouer, asook verantwoordelikhede; werkplek dinamika/ondersteuning; finansiële en institusionele ondersteuning/implikasies en motivering om die studie te voltooi. Gevolgtrekking: Die suksesvolle voltooiing van die navorsing wat onderneem word op nagraadse vlak en toesig is afhanklik van ’n gesonde en produktiewe verhouding tussen die toesighouer en die student. Die nagaan en implementering van die leiding en voorstelle in hierdie studie sal die studente help in die oorweging van toesighouer voorkeure. Dit sal gevolglik aanleiding gee tot die bereiking van ’n goeie toesighoudende verhouding wat die sleutel is tot die suksesvolle voltooiing van magistergraad studies. universiteite en universiteite van tegnologie in Suid-Afrika om meer markgeoriënteerd, kompeterend en ondernemend te word. Suksesvolle en betekenisvolle toesig maak hoofsaaklik n bydra tot die onderlinge bevrediging en professionele ontwikkeling tussen toesighouers en studente. Goeie toesig behoort ’n integrale komponent van kwaliteit begeleiding in navorsing te wees. Doelwit: Die doel van hierdie studie was om die behoeftes van navorsingtoesig en ervaring van die magisterstudent in verpleging te ondersoek Metodologie: ’n Beskrywende, fenomenologiese navorsingsontwerp met ’n kwalitatiewe navorsingsbenadering is gebruik. ’n Nie-waarskynlike, doelbewuste steekproefmetode is gebruik om respondente vir hierdie studie te selekteer. Die teikenbevolking sluit in alle magisterstudente wat ingeskryf is vir verpleegwetenskap aan die Universiteit van Stellenbosch oor die afgelope drie jaar (N=109). ’n Steekproefgrootte van twaalf studente is ingesluit in hierdie studie, waaronder daar met al twaalf van aangesig tot aangesig onderhoude gevoer is deur gebruik te maak van die semi-gestruktureerde onderhoudsgids. Insluitingskriteria vir die studente was dat hulle almal bestaande geregistreerde studente moes wees wat aanvanklik ingeskryf het vir die program vir die Meestersgraad in Verpleging tussen 2008 en 2010 in die afdeling van Verpleging aan die Universiteit van Stellenbosch.

Thesis (MCurr)--Stellenbosch University, 2013. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Scientific evidence based practices are essential to efficient health service delivery. Continuous education to Master’s Degree level is the springboard to future research projects, but the throughput of Master’s Degree students is however a concern. The poor attainment rate of Master’s Degree in nursing delays improvement in evidence based nursing practices and impedes the availability of academia. This study aimed to identify factors that influence the throughput of Master’s Degree nursing students in a distance education programme at a university in South Africa. The objective was to identify influencing factors related to • the individual • the Higher Education Institution • the employer A non-experimental, descriptive research design was applied with a quantitative approach. The target population was all the enrolled Master’s Degree Nursing students between 2004 and 2010 at the university under study. A structured electronic questionnaire was implemented for data collection. The questionnaire was presented to (n = 201) with a response rate of (n = 46/23%). Ethical approval was obtained from Stellenbosch University to conduct this study. Permission was obtained from the university under study to utilize the contact details on the data base of the target population. Reliability and validity was assured by two pilot studies to test the instrument and the use of experts in nursing research, methodology and statistics. The electronic instrument allowed automatic data capturing. The collected data was archived in the accessed controlled electronic data surveys pool of Stellenbosch University. Data analysis was done with the support of a statistician and was expressed as frequencies and in tables. Descriptive statistics and tests for statistical associations were also performed. The individual related outcomes showed that respondents had a mean age of 42 years and (n = 22/48%) had 21 to 40 years experience as a professional nurse. The majority of respondents were female (n = 45/98%) and married (n = 30/54%). Results indicated that the management of family and studies was not easy (n = 30/65%), but respondents experienced their family as an effective support (n = 37/80%) during their studies. Respondents who left their studies indicated the main reason to be a lack of a supporting network (n = 7/19%). Impeding factor results from the Higher Education Institution showed that WebCT was not an effective communication instrument (n = 19/42%) and (n = 22/48%) respondents had difficulty to access their supervisors. Enhancing factors related to study outcomes that were easy to comprehend (n = 39/85%) and efficiency of face-to-face workshops (n = 21/88%) provided support. All the respondents were employed at the time of study (n = 46/100%). Results showed that service demands were the reason why (n = 4/11%) non-completing respondents left their studies. Employers required from (n = 22/48%) respondents to do overtime during their studies. Employer demands influenced the studies of (n = 16/65%) respondents. In conclusion, this study showed specific factors that influence the throughput of Master’s Degree in Nursing students at the university under study. Recommendations were made to influence policy makers and stakeholders to reconsider their present practices regarding continuous education and support to their clients. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Wetenskaplikgefundeerde uitkomsgebaseerde praktyke is noodsaakik vir doeltreffende gesondheidsdienslewering. Voortgesette onderrig tot die vlak van ’n Magistergraad is die vertrekpunt vir toekomstige navorsingsprojekte, maar die voltooiing van Magistergrade is egter ‘n bekommernis. Die gebrekkige verwerwing van Meestersgrade in Verpleegkunde het nie net ’n sleureffek op die verbetering van uitkomsgebaseerde verpleegpraktyke nie, dit strem ook die beskikbaarheid van akademici. Die studie het ten doel gehad om faktore te identifiseer wat die voltooiing van die Magistergraad in Verpleegkunde vir studente van die afstandsonderrigprogram, aan ‘n universiteit in Suid-Afrika, beïnvloed. Die doelwit behels die identifisering van faktore wat te make het met • die individu • die Hoëronderwys Instansie • die werkgewer ’n Nie–eksperimentele, beskrywende navorsingsontwerp met ’n kwantitatiewe benadering is gevolg. Die teikengroep is al die ingeskrewe Magisterstudente in Verpleegkunde tussen 2004 en 2010 aan die teiken-universiteit. ’n Gestruktureerde elektroniese-vraelys is gebruik vir dataversameling. Die vraelys is aangebied aan (n = 201) kandidate en ‘n (n = 46/23%) voltooiingrespons is verkry. Etiese goedkeuring om die studie te doen is van die Universiteit Stellenbosch verkry. Toestemming is ook van die teiken-universiteit verkry om die kontakbesonderhede van die teikenbevolking vanuit die databasis te benut. Betroubaarheid en geldigheid is deur twee loodsstudies verseker en vakkundiges in verpleegnavorsing, metodologie en statistiek is betrek by die studie. Die elektroniese instrument het voorsiening gemaak vir outomatiese datavaslegging met voltooiing. Die versamelde data is in die toegangsbeheerde elektroniese-navorsingsdatabank van die Universiteit Stellenbosch geberg. Die data is ontleed met die hulp van ‘n statistikus en is as frekwensies en tabelle weergegee. Beskrywende statistiek en toetse vir statistiese verhoudings is ook uitgevoer. Die bevindings rakende die individu dui daarop die gemiddelde ouderdom van deelnemers 42 jaar was en dat (n = 22/45%) tussen 21 en 40 jaar ervaring as professionele verpleegkundiges het. Die meeste van die deelnemers was vroulik (n = 45/98%) en getroud (n = 30/54%). Bevindings toon dat die hantering van familie en studies nie maklik was nie (n = 30/65%), maar deelnemers het egter hul familie as goeie ondersteuning (n = 37/80%) gedurende hul studies beleef. Deelnemers wat hul studies gestaak het, het as die hoofrede ’n gebrek aan ‘n ondersteuningsnetwerk aangevoer (n = 7/19%). Bevindings wat verwys na stremmende faktore van die Hoëronderwysinstelling hou verband met WebCT wat ondoeltreffend was as kommunikasie-instrument (n = 19/42%) en studieleiers wat moeilik deur deelnemers bereik kon word (n = 22/48%). Versterkende faktore was verwant aan studiedoelwitte wat maklik verstaanbaar was (n = 39/85%) en die ondersteuningsukses van aangesig tot aangesig werkswinkels (n = 21/88%). Al die deelnemers was in diens tydens hul studie (n = 46/100%). Bevindings toon dat diensverwagtinge die rede was waarom (n = 4/11%) deelnemers hul studies gestaak het. Werkgewers het van (n = 22/48%) deelnemers verwag om oortyd te werk tydens hul studies terwyl (n = 16/65%) deelnemers aangedui het dat hul studies beïnvloed was deur hul werkgewer se eise. Ten slotte, hierdie studie het getoon dat spesifieke faktore die voltooiing van Magisterstudies in Verpleegkunde aan die teiken-universiteit beïnvloed. Aanbevelings is gemaak om beleidmakers en belangegroepe te beïnvloed om hul bestaande praktyke rakende voortgesette onderrig en ondersteuning aan hul kliënte te heroorweeg.

The purpose of this case study was to explore, from the perspective of students enrolled in a baccalaureate evangelical nursing program, the process of learning to care as a professional nurse. A modified symbolic interactionist perspective guided the study. The specific research questions focused on identification of student conceptions of caring, social processes that may have an effect on student conceptions of caring, and the effect that diverse clinical rotations may have on student conceptions. Initially, a content analysis of selected institutional documents was conducted and a detailed description of the institution was reported to contextualize the distinctive nature of the evangelical institution. Following this analysis, students and faculty members were observed during clinical experiences and interviewed both formally and informally during one academic year. Twenty-three nursing students enrolled in medical/surgical, maternity and community health clinical nursing courses and their respective faculty members participated in the study. The process of learning to care was, for many students, influenced by their life experiences and Christian worldview. As students developed conceptions of professional caring, they identified issues and tensions related to trust, respect, and interpersonal balance. In relationships with patients, staff nurses and faculty members, students identified conflicting messages regarding professional caring. The reality and challenge of providing care as a nurse was most meaningfully realized and negotiated in the clinical settings. The general conceptions of caring students held remained stable in each of the clinical settings, although students identified selected clinical characteristics that had an effect on the implementation of professional caring.

No description available.

Continuing education programs are successful only to the extent that the recommended practice or behavior is implemented. Previous research has demonstrated that some programs result in behavior change and others fail to do so. A conceptual framework developed by Cervero links behavior change to continuing professional education. This descriptive correlational study examined factors related to implementation of knowledge gained from a continuing professional educational offering into practice among registered nurses. One questionnaire on the motivation of the individual professional was given prior to the continuing professional educational offering and three other questionnaires eliciting the participants perception of the social system, nature of the change and the continuing educational offering was given upon completion of the class. Two months following the offering a self-report evaluation, a Likert scale instrument and an open-ended questionnaire, was completed by the participants to measure the change in behavior after the learning experience. Demographic data of the participants was also correlated with nursing behavior. The rights of the participants were protected at all times. Participants were asked to participate on a strictly voluntary basis. Findings of the study indicated that the variables of the individual professional, the continuing educational offering, the nature of the change and social system did not statistically correlate with the outcome variable of behavior change. However, the responses to the open ended questionnaire contradicted the statistical findings. Participants articulated numerous ways in which their nursing practice had changed as a result of their continuing education experience. Conclusions of the study were that there is no statistically significant relationship between the independent variables and the dependent variable of behavior change, but that qualitative data indicated that change in nursing practice did occur following the continuing professional education offering. Implications from the study indicate that the process of continuing professional education is complex with multiple variables. There is a need for further research to delineate the influence of these variables on behavior change in nursing practice. Then, those planning educational offerings could work effectively with their clientele to more dramatically improve health care and client outcomes. / School of Nursing