Submitted in accordance with the requirements of the Degree In Masters in Health Sciences (Nursing), Durban University of Technology, Durban, South Africa, 2018. / This qualitative research study was conducted to explore and describe leadership competencies of the newly registered professional (NRP) nurses during the first year of registration with the South African Nursing Council (SANC) in selected provincial hospitals in the eThekwini health district. A qualitative, exploratory, descriptive study methodology was used. Semi-structured interviews were used to collect data; open- ended questions provided participants with an opportunity to provide rich and detailed information about selected experiences as qualified professional nurses. The main objective of the study was to build on prior work in order to explore and describe selected leadership competencies of the NRP nurses, particularly those related to inability to manage conflict, uncertainty and fear of having to delegate, and observing unethical practice. Benner’s model of Novice to Expert nurse was used as the organising framework. The purposive sample comprised eight R425 trained professional nurses in their first year of registration with the SANC, who were working in the selected regional hospitals of eThekwini health district. All participants had completed one year of practice and reported believing that they were at Stage 3: Competent of Benner’s Stages of Clinical Competence model – from Novice to Expert. Six themes emerged, namely: support; uncertainty and fear of having to delegate; competence; transition to professional nurse; observed unethical practices; fear of victimisation; and difficult relationships. From the above stated themes fifteen sub-themes emerged. The results found that nurses are continuing to transition into Benner’s Stage 5: which requires continued support and integration as they evolve in their roles as professional nurses. / M

Professional associations and professional relationships are a feature of the social structure of all advanced societies. Professional associations perform or provide a number of functions and services for professionals and for the organisations employing them: Continuing education, admission to practice, certification and credentialing, educational standards, enforcement of standards, codes of ethics, and standards of performance, meetings, social activities, newsletters, and journals. Professional association membership is therefore very valuable to professionals and, in turn, for the organisations which employ those professionals, because of the wide variety of important functions served and services provided by such associations. This value cascades through to the economy of the countries in which the associations perform. This study seeks to contribute to the increased effectiveness of professional associations in South Africa by assessing the level of organisational effectiveness within these associations, and the factors that affect such effectiveness. It is hoped that this research will provide the necessary information to enable senior stakeholders within the associations to make better decisions, and formulate better strategies to improve their effectiveness. If challenges of ineffectiveness are not addressed, the risk is that these associations might not achieve optimal effectiveness and growth, with negative impact on the professionals they serve, and the economy. Conversely, and optimistically, improvements in the effectiveness of professional associations, will positively impact the professionals they serve, with cascading benefits to the economy. Convenience sampling was used to target the senior staff or office bearers within the 48 SAQA registered professional associations in South Africa, at the time of survey. Self-constructed instruments were used to measure the variables included in the hypothesised model. Open-ended questions were also included in the questionnaire in order to capture qualitative information about professional associations. Using STATISTICS Version 10 (2010), the data analyses included exploratory factor analyses, the calculation of Cronbach alphas and Pearson correlations, and the content analysis of qualitative data. The most important finding of this study is that being an effective learning organisation (ELO) is an important indicator of a PA’s organisational effectiveness. To be an ELO means that the PA should continuously strive to learn and improve by conducting research that benefits the association itself, its members, its sector and its country. It is therefore important that PA’s focus their efforts on becoming effective learning organisations by planning and directing their resources on achieving this objective. It means that PA’s must employ or contract in intellectual resources that would enable them to stay at the cutting-edge of services that their members and clients want. This would require PA’s to ensure that they have the continuous services of high calibre researchers. The second important finding of this study is the indication that membership growth is another measure of a PA’s organisational effectiveness. It has already been reported above that being an ELO drives membership growth. The fact that being the first-mover in the industry increases membership growth is an indication that PA’s should capitalise on this strength, by always striving to be the first in everything its members and clients require, or will require. This calls for PA’s to conduct continuous environmental scanning, and the required research and development to deliver products and services first to their members and clients. The fact that competitive characteristics drive membership growth indicates to PA’s that they could attract more members if they maintain and improve service levels; continuously and effectively lobby government for better services for their members and clients; develop and deliver unique services to their members and clients; protect themselves against imitation of their resources and skills, outperform their competitors; and continuously enhance their credibility compared to other professional associations.

Professional bodies represent practitioners who continually seek guidance on industry related problems and challenges. Each professional body adopts values that are aligned to their own field of expertise. The operations of professional bodies are generally similar in many aspects and demands proficiency in order to maintain credibility and relevance. Research has revealed that professional bodies are lacking in effectiveness and need to improve so that maximum benefit can be relished by practitioners. This research attempts to develop a framework that can be utilised as a guide by professional bodies so that they can achieve excellence. The aim of the study was to develop a framework that can be used for the management of professional bodies by exploring the views and opinions of a total of 748 participants from management and members of professional bodies locally. The data was collected from interviews, and two separate questionnaires, one for professional bodies and the other for practitioners. The data was analysed statistically primarily using factor analysis to determine the significant factors that contributed to the developed framework for professional bodies. The questionnaires espoused questions related to the demographics of the respondents, management, mandate of professional bodies, offerings and benefits, assurance mechanisms, role of members, needs of members and more. The research instrument used the seven point Likert scale for the respondents to rate each question. The questionnaires were posted online for the respondents to participate. The research significant factors for professional bodies and practitioners emanated separately through factor analysis. The factors were then combined resulting in a total of 14 research overall factors that were used to develop a framework for professional bodies. The beneficiaries of this study are primarily professional bodies. The framework will also be useful to management in industry since it addresses partnership and collaboration efforts between industry, professional bodies and training authorities. / Business Management / DBL

Professional bodies represent practitioners who continually seek guidance on industry related problems and challenges. Each professional body adopts values that are aligned to their own field of expertise. The operations of professional bodies are generally similar in many aspects and demands efficacy in order to maintain credibility and relevance. Research has revealed that professional bodies are lacking in efficacy and need to improve so that maximum benefit can be relished by practitioners. This research attempts to develop a framework that can be utilised as a guide by professional bodies so that they can achieve excellence. The aim of the study was to develop a framework that can be used for the formation, practice and management of professional bodies by exploring the views and opinions of a total of 1119 participants from management and members of professional bodies locally. The data was collected from interviews, a focus group discussion and two separate questionnaires, one for professional bodies and the other for practitioners. The data was analysed statistically primarily using factor analysis to determine the significant factors that contributed to the developed framework for professional bodies. The questionnaires espoused questions related to the demographics of the respondents, management, mandate of professional bodies, offerings and benefits, assurance mechanisms, role of members, needs of members and more. The research instrument used the seven point Likert scale for the respondents to rate each question. The questionnaires were posted online for the respondents to participate. The research significant factors for professional bodies and practitioners emanated separately through factor analysis. The factors were then combined resulting in a total of 14 research overall factors that were used to develop a framework for professional bodies. The beneficiaries of this study are primarily professional bodies, practitioners and also SAQA. The framework will also be useful to management in industry since it addresses partnership and collaboration efforts between industry, professional bodies and academia. / Business Management / D.B.L.