No description available.

Ph.D. (Nursing Education)--University of the Witwatersrand, Faculty of Health Sciences, 2012 / The sciences of restorative nursing are unknown in South Africa, leaving patients with restorative needs with rather unpredictable outcomes. This study investigated the validity of four prospective nursing scales to be used for patients requiring nursing where the focus is to improve their functionality. Such patients are usually found in sub- and non-acute nursing units and suffering with chronic debilitating diseases, mental illness or recovering from trauma. Typically they are in need of rehabilitation, palliative care, geriatric services or long-term care to restore or maintain their functional independence. Inspired by the theories of nursing pioneers such as Florence Nightingale, the definitive nurse who was also an astute healthcare reform statistician, as well as Ida Jean Orlando, better known as the originator of the nursing process, the researcher, a general medical practitioner, has explored the intuitive knowledge of experienced nurses to document the links between their observations, interpretations and predictions of patient functioning. This information was used to develop four interrelated nursing scales to be used routinely by nurses to provide raw patient scores on patient functional changes. As nursing intuition was used to develop the measures, the working hypothesis was that the scales are considered valid. Therefore, the approach towards the study was deductive in nature, seeking the evidence to confirm this assumption. As the purpose of the study was to offer nurses useful scales to provide validated empirical evidence of human functional status, the research question was how scientific evidence can be used to conclude that these four scales have indeed the integrity to deliver a measurement function to the nurses. The researcher’s hypothesis of validating routine nursing measures is supported by two concepts: nursing utility and constructs validity. If nursing utility fail, construct validity is of no value to the nursing profession. With this in mind, the v study objectives were to first validate nursing utility using a qualitative design to collect descriptive data from nurses who have implemented the scales. Once positive findings were reported on the usefulness of the scales to the nursing profession, then construct validity was explored using the Rasch measurement model to qualitatively analyse the scale’s raw data collected in various sub- and non-acute nursing facilities. One scale was discarded, and three showed good to excellent results on both utility and construct validity. It has provided the restorative nursing sciences with a methodology to routinely collect patient-based empirical evidence for parametric analysis. In so doing, it delivered the missing link in Orlando’s nursing process theory; it also confirmed Nightingale’s theory that healthcare evidence provided routinely by nurse is the stepping stone for healthcare reform, provided it is useful, meaningful and valid. The ultimate beneficiaries of this new knowledge are patients who previously would have had unpredictable outcomes resulting in a poor prognosis.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Washington, 1995. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves [66]-70).

One of the main challenges facing public sector healthcare services in South Africa is the shortage of professional nurses, driven in part by poor salaries. Despite initiatives undertaken to improve salaries, this has not yielded the desired results. The objective of this study was thus to determine some of the reasons for this shortage, and to explore the need to develop pragmatic retention strategies and turnover policies to curb nursing shortages at Inkosi Albert Luthuli Central Hospital. A qualitative and quantitative survey of job satisfaction amongst professional nurses was conducted to identify what factors needed to be addressed to retain professional nurses at Inkosi Albert Luthuli Central Hospital. It is integral that retention programmes be aimed at job satisfaction and organisational commitment. The findings show that organisational and management commitment contributes to job satisfaction of professional nurses. Based on these findings, recommendations were compiled for the retention of professional nurses at Inkosi Albert Luthuli Central Hospital. / Thesis (MBA)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Westville, 2011.

Thesis (M.S.P.H.)--University of Michigan, 1936.

Thesis (M.S.P.H.)--University of Michigan, 1936.

Zugl. Diss.

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Wisconsin, School of Nursing. / eContent provider-neutral record in process. Description based on print version record.

No description available.

Administration and faculty are now being held accountable for the learning process in educational programs at the institutional level. The purpose of this study was to describe and compare baccalaureate graduates' perceptions of Ball State University School of Nursing's education program and employers' perceptions of those graduates. This study also examined graduates demographic characteristics such as, personal information, education, professional practice, and professional activities. Stufflebeam's (1966) CIPP Model for evaluation was utilized as a theoretical framework. A convenience sample of all graduates of 19881990 one year after graduation and 1986-1987 graduates five years after graduation and employers willing to participate completed the questionnaires and/or demographic sheet. The perceptions of graduates towards Ball State University School of Nursing's educational programs and employers'perceptions towards the graduates were examined in descriptive design.A list of names was received from Ball State University's Alumni Office. Questionnaires were coded and mailed with a cover letter and a stamped, self-addressed envelope.All participants were informed of rights as human subjects and the confidentiality of this study. A cover letter informed subjects of procedures, risks, and benefits. Ball State University's Institutional Review Board granted permission to conduct the study.The findings of this study of one and five year postgraduates lead to the general conclusion that Ball State University's baccalaureate nursing program has been successful. These findings are consistent with those found in the literature. In general, the graduates expressed satisfaction with all aspects of the baccalaureate nursing education.The findings from the instrument to measure employers' perceptions (one and five years after graduation) were positive. Approximately three fourths of employers indicated the graduates functioned at above expected levels in regards to communication, nursing, leadership skills, andprofessionalism. The graduates had a successful transition into practice, and employers were satisfied with the graduates' performances. / School of Nursing