M.Cur. / Please refer to full text to view abstract

Thesis (MCur)--Stellenbosch University, 2003. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: No clear description exists in S.A. of the role and functions of a forensic psychiatric nurse. The researcher conducted a research project based on more than 20 years of practice experience to define and describe the role and functions of the forensic nurse practitioner. A non-experimental descriptive study was done. Questionnaires and checklists were compiled to determine the perceptions of forensic psychiatric patients/clients (n =24) and nursing staff (n = 15) .The nursing activities in a selected forensic psychiatric unit was evaluated through nonparticipative observation. Results indicated that: • Patients experienced their environment as isolated and has a need for better support by the nursing staff; • Nursing staff indicated their need for more specific training in forensic psychiatric nursing; and • A need exists for specific protocols and procedures to guide his/her practice. The recommendations are made that: • A special training program for forensic psychiatric nursing needs to be planned and implemented; and • Procedures and guidelines must be established to guide the practice of the nurse practitioner. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Daar bestaan in S.A. geen duidelike omskrywing van die rol en funksies van die forensiese psigiatriese verpleegkundige nie. Die navorser het gegrond op meer as 20 jaar praktykervaring 'n navorsingsprojek gedoen om die rol en funksies van die verpleegpraktisyn te definieer en te omskryf. 'n Nie-eksperimentele, beskrywende studie is gedoen. Vraelyste en kontrolelyste is opgestel om die persepsies van forensiese psigiatriese pasiënte/kliënte (n=24) en verpleegpersoneel (n=15) te bepaal. Die verpleegaktiwiteite in 'n geselekteerde forensiese psigiatriese eenheid is deur nie-deelnemende observasie geëvalueer. Resultate het daarop gedui dat: • Pasiënte hulle omgewing as geïsoleerd ervaar en het 'n behoefte aan beter ondersteuning deur die verpleegpersoneel; • Verpleegpersoneel het aangedui dat hulle 'n behoefte het aan spesifieke opleiding in forensiese psigiatriese verpJeging;en • Daar 'n behoefte is aan spesifieke protokolle en prosedures om sy/haar praktyk te rig . Die aanbevelings word gemaak dat: • 'n Spesiale opleidingsprogram vir forensiese psigiatriese verpleging beplan en geïmplementeer word; en • Prosedures en riglyne daargestel moet word om die praktyk van die verpleegpraktisyn te rig.

The purpose of this study is to gain a richer understanding of the experiences of moral distress for nursing students within the context of psychiatric-mental health clinical placements, examine strategies students use to effectively manage distress, and explore student and instructor roles as agents of change to reduce the negative impact of moral distress. Nursing students and instructors engaged in semi-structured interviews and focus groups, respectively, to examine the complexities of this phenomenon. This study utilized second-person action research based on Jürgen Habermas’ Theory of Communicative Action. Findings indicated that nursing students experience moral distress when they are powerless and lack role models to follow in taking action to address situations that are “not right”. Nursing instructors acknowledge their responsibility to prepare students for practice, but are also powerless as “guests” within the practice setting and are powerless to effect change on a hierarchical medical system. Findings indicate that both nursing education and health care institutions must make changes in their approaches to practice if they wish to empower nursing professionals to provide safe, competent, and ethical care to patients. / vii, 139 leaves ; 29 cm