Thesis (M.Cur.) --University of Limpopo, 2012 / The implementation of a Performance Management System (PMS) and its impact on the professional nurses have never been evaluated and, therefore, the experiences of professional nurses are not known. The purpose of this study was to explore and describe the experiences of professional nurses with regard to performance assessment at the Polokwane Mankweng Hospital Complex. Upon obtaining the clearance to conduct the study from the Medunsa Reseach and Ethics Committee, permission to conduct the study was granted by the Department of Health. A qualitative research approach was used by applying the principles of a phenomenological, exploratory, descriptive and contextual design. Data were collected from fourteen (14) professional nurses by using unstructured face-to-face interviews. Data were audio recorded and field notes were also written. Trustworthiness was ensured by applying the Lincoln and Guba’s criteria. Transferability was ensured by utilizing purposive sampling to include participats. Confirmability was ensured by by collecting data from thr participants who have experience on the problem studied. Data were analysed qualitatively by using Tech’s open coding method. The results indicated that there was conflict between the nurse managers and professional nurses that was arising from dissatisfaction with the assessment rating and scores allocated. Professional nurses complained about unfair ratings, stating that scores were based on personality and not performance. Those professional nurses who were obtaining high scores were perceived as the nurse managers’ favourites. Professional nurses called for a change in or review of the method of performance assessment. The results indicated that nurse managers were lacking knowledge about performance assessment and, therefore, feedback about performance were not given. It is recommended that on-going training of the nurse managers and a change in the method of assessment will remedy the situation.

Thesis (Dr. P.H.)--University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, School of Public Health, 1991. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 220-230).

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Michigan, 1978.

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Michigan, 1978.

Background: Research is essential for the development of a unique body of knowledge, a hall mark of any profession. It should be utilised to provide the basis for professional theory and practice. Aim: The purpose of the study was to develop guidelines that will assist professional nurses in the utilisation of research findings. Design and setting: Quantitative, descriptive research was used to determine professional nurses’ (N=284) perception of utilization of research findings in practice. The structured questionnaire was used to collect data. Data were analysed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 23 since this is a quantitative study. The study focused on professional nurses at the two selected hospitals that were providing the comprehensive programme in the uMgungundlovu district. Results: 284 respondents answered the questionnaire. Of the respondents, 73.3% agreed that they lacked knowledge of research. The frequency of respondents that lacked research knowledge was 208. Of the respondents, 211 (74.3%) recommended use of research findings in practice versus 24 (8.5%) who were unsure and 9 (3%) respectively who did not know whether research should be used or not. Conclusions: The findings revealed that there is a need for changes to be made in the nursing education system to try and improve research utilisation by professional nurses in practice since the professional nurses working in the clinical area are produced by nursing education institutions / Health Studies / M.A. (Health Studies)

Magister Curationis - MCur / Community service has been an inevitable part of most health professionals’ lives since it began in 1998. In 2004 the Health Minister in South Africa announced that community service will be extended to include nurses once the Nursing Bill of 2005 was passed by Parliament. Community service for nurses is one year of service after graduation and before the graduate is registered as a professional nurse with the South African Nursing Council. The period of transition from student to newly qualified nurse is known to be stressful. “Reality shock” is a common experience for newly qualified nurses who find themselves in work situations for which they feel inadequately prepared. The aim of the study was to explore the professional nurses’ experience of the community service year at a secondary hospital in the Western Cape. The two objectives were to explore the professional nurses’ experience of their transition from student to community service practitioner and to explore the support and challenges experienced by professional nurses during their community service year at a secondary hospital in the Western Cape. A qualitative research approach and an exploratory and descriptive research design were used to gain insight into the professional nurses’ experiences of their community service year. The population included all professional nurses employed in community service during 2012-2013 and who were working at the selected research site, a secondary academic hospital in the Western Cape. Participants, sampled through purposive sampling, participated in semi-structured interviews during September 2014-January 2015. The inductive process described by Thomas (2003) was used to analyse the data. The results of this study revealed that the community service year was experienced as difficult as it required the community service practitioners to apply new knowledge and take on a higher level of responsibility in practice. The undergraduate nursing programme was perceived as not preparing them for the responsibility as community service practitioner.However, transition from student to community service practitioner was experienced as positive as they developed positive relationships with staff that supported them through the process while they developed professionally.

Magister Curationis - MCur / Background: The integration of mental health into primary health care meant that patients were admitted into a less restrictive environment. They received treatment for mental illness in their communities, therefore, averting unnecessary hospitalisation in psychiatric hospitals. However, given that patients with mental illnesses were admitted to district hospitals as involuntary mental health care users (MHCUs), this setting was purported to be fraught with challenges for both staff and patients. Aim and objectives: The aim of this study was to explore and describe the experiences of professional nurses, working at selected district hospitals in the Western Cape metropole, where 72-hour assessments of involuntary mental health care users are conducted. The objectives of this study were to determine how the 72-hour unit functioned in the general ward, the experiences of professional nurses regarding the integration of the 72-hour assessment units in the general ward and suggested improvements. Methodology: A qualitative research approach, with a descriptive phenomenological design, was used to collect data through semi-structured interviews from eight (8) professional nurses, working in the two selected district hospitals in the Cape Town metropole area. Purposive sampling was employed to select the participants. Data were analysed using Tesch’s method of qualitative data analysis. Four themes, namely, patient management process affected the functioning of the ward, patient management challenges in rendering patient care, burden of caring on the Self, and staff and patient support to create a therapeutic environment, emerged during data analysis, which encapsulated the nurse's experience of working in 72-hour assessment units in selected district hospitals. Findings: The findings of this revealed that the district hospitals were ill prepared for the admission of involuntary mental health care users. There were challenges, in terms of resources, namely, infrastructure to create a therapeutic environment, knowledgeable and skilled staff to care for the MHCUs. The MHCUs were contained in the district hospitals for longer than was legislated, rather than receiving therapeutic interventions at psychiatric facilities. Needs were identified to improve the functioning of the 72-hour assessment units, which included education and training of personnel, Discussion: The non-therapeutic environment had a negative impact on the staff working in the 72-hour assessment units. Nursing staff were burdened with caring for patients in an environment where they, as well as the MHCUs, were stigmatised due to the diagnosis of mental illness. However, the participants internalised their own experiences, as they prioritised the MHCUs well-being. The findings supported previous studies, which revealed that the objectives of the Mental Health Care Act (No. 17 of 2002), which supported the integration of mental health into primary health care, were not realised after more than a decade of implementation. Recommendations: Given the limited scope of this thesis, replications of this study in other district hospitals are recommended, in order to ascertain whether the objectives of the MHCA (2002), regarding 72-hour assessments, have been realised. A therapeutic environment, which includes infrastructure and resources to ensure that MHCUs receive care, treatment and rehabilitation within the district hospitals, is required. The recruitment and retention of adequate, skilled permanent staff is crucial, to ensure that MHCUs receive care, treatment and rehabilitation. Finally, the training and education of all personnel (including security) working in the selected district hospitals should be mandatory, in order to address patient care and stigma related to mental illness.

Recruitment and retention of professional nurses are crucial issues for hospital departments of nursing. Recognizing the necessity to bridge the gap that persists between nursing education and nursing services, hospitals have designed programs to assist new nurses make the transition to current nursing practice. By helping individuals make the transition to current nursing practice it is hoped that staff nurses will be retained.

Bakgrund: Sjuksköterskan har i sitt arbete ett stort ansvar för människors liv och hälsa. Arbetet kan dock ofta vara mycket stressigt, vilket kan leda till både stressrelaterad ohälsa hos sjuksköterskan och risk för misstag i arbetet. För att kunna utföra ett patientsäkert och ändamålsmässigt arbete, med en god vidhållen hälsa, är det viktigt med en god stresshanteringsförmåga. Mindfulness har i andra sammanhang visat sig förbättra förmågan att hantera stress. Syfte: Syftet med litteraturöversikten var att beskriva evidens för mindfulness som stressreduktion hos yrkesverksamma sjuksköterskor. Metod: Studien är en litteraturöversikt och består av 15 vetenskapliga artiklar med kvalitativ, kvantitativ samt mixad metod. Artikelsökningar är utförda i databaserna PsycINFO, PubMed och CINAHL. Resultat: Litteraturöversiktens resultat presenteras utifrån två huvudkategorier: Mindfulnessinterventioner och Effekter av mindfulness Slutsats: Mindfulnessinterventioner har i litteraturöversikten visat sig effektiva i att förbättra sjuksköterskornas förmåga att hantera stress och därmed minska stressen. Sjuksköterskors tillämpning av mindfulness kan således bidra till en ökad patientsäkerhet och mer ändamålsmässig omvårdad. / Background: The professional nurse has a great responsibility for people's lives and health. However, the work can often be very stressful, which can lead to both the stress-related ill health of the nurse and the risk of mistakes at work. In order to be able to perform a patient-safe and effective work, with good maintained health, it is important to have a good stress management ability. In other contexts, mindfulness has been shown to improve the ability to manage stress. Aim: The purpose of the literature review was to describe evidence of mindfulness as stress reduction strategy in professional nurses. Method: The study is a literature review and consists of 15 scientific articles with qualitative-, quantitative- and mixed methods. Article searches were performed in the databases CINAHL, PsycINFO, PubMed. Results: The literature review's results are presented on the basis of two main categories: Mindfulness interventions and Effects of mindfulness. Conclusion: In this literature review, mindfulness interventions have been shown to be effective in improving nurses' ability to manage stress and thus reduce stress. Nurses' application of mindfulness can thus contribute to increased patient safety and better care.

Thesis (M. Cur.)-- University of Limpopo, 2013 / Background: The growing human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) pandemic continues to make a serious impact on all countries throughout the world. Globally, countries have responded to the HIV/AIDS pandemic by investing millions of dollars to help fight the disease, but the impact of HIV/AIDS is even greater in developing countries of Sub-Saharan Africa, including South Africa. Aims: The aims of this study were to describe the perceived problems experienced by professional nurses who provide health care to patients living with HIV/AIDS in public hospitals of Polokwane municipality, Limpopo Province and to identify guidelines to support these professional nurses. Study method: A qualitative, descriptive and contextual method was used in this study. Semi-structured, one-to-one interviews were conducted with professional nurses who participated voluntarily in the study. Tesch’s open-coding method was used for data analysis. Results: Professional nurses who provided care to people living with HIV/AIDS at Polokwane Hospital expressed feelings of frustrations and work overload, treatment delay, lack of knowledge on HIV/AIDS, lack of support systems, poor prognosis and patients presenting with confusion and mental disturbances. Conclusion and recommendations: Despite the fact that the professional nurses expressed negative experiences as they carried out their daily activities, and they still continued rendering care to HIV/AIDS patients, notwithstanding the obstacles they encountered. Recommendations were made with regard to nursing practice and nursing education, staff support by vii management, education and counselling for relatives, reaching out to the relatives and community, and further research.