Thesis (M.Cur) --University of Limpopo, 2013 / This study was aimed at determining the factors that contributed to absenteeism of pupil nurses in the nursing schools of Capricorn district in Limpopo Province. A descriptive cross-sectional quantitative design was used to describe factors that contributed to absenteeism of pupil nurses in the nursing schools of Capricorn district. The target population consisted of 124 pupil nurses at two nursing schools in the Capricorn district. Ten pupil nurses from one nursing school were used in a pilot study, but for the main study 114 nurses from both nursing schools were sampled. Systematic sampling was used to select 57 pupil nurses who participated in the study. Data were collected by means of a self-developed questionnaire that comprised 24 items on teaching, course content, learning, assessment and social problems. The Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS, version 18) was used for data analysis. Validity and reliability were ensured by using Cronbach’s test on the pilot study. Ethical clearance was obtained from the Medunsa Research and Ethics Committee, and permission to conduct the study was granted by the Department of Health and Social Development, Limpopo Province. The findings of the study revealed that teaching, course content, learning environment, assessment and social problems were contributory factors to absenteeism of pupil nurses in the nursing schools of the Capricorn district in the Limpopo Province. The study further showed that pupil nurses were absent from classroom and clinical settings due to fear of assessment and attending to social problems. The study recommended the redesigning of nursing education and training in the Capricorn district of the Limpopo Province. The study proposed that appropriate and innovative teaching strategies and support systems be established for pupil nurses.

The aim of this study is to determine the effectiveness of simulation training in improving the clinical competence of pupil nurses. A quantitative, quasi-experimental, non-equivalent control group before-after design is used. The method of data collection is observation using check lists. The population for this study includes the second-year pupil nurses (N=43) following the two-year programme leading to enrolment as a nurse at the Gauteng learning centre of a private hospital group during 2011-2012. The results reveal that although there is proof that clinical training in simulation improves the competence levels of the experimental group in the procedure administration of oral medication over a period of time, there is no proof that this is true for the procedure observation of patients’ neurological functions and, therefore, the researcher cannot come to a definite conclusion about the effectiveness of simulation training / Health Studies / M.A. (Health Studies)

The aim of this study is to determine the effectiveness of simulation training in improving the clinical competence of pupil nurses. A quantitative, quasi-experimental, non-equivalent control group before-after design is used. The method of data collection is observation using check lists. The population for this study includes the second-year pupil nurses (N=43) following the two-year programme leading to enrolment as a nurse at the Gauteng learning centre of a private hospital group during 2011-2012. The results reveal that although there is proof that clinical training in simulation improves the competence levels of the experimental group in the procedure administration of oral medication over a period of time, there is no proof that this is true for the procedure observation of patients’ neurological functions and, therefore, the researcher cannot come to a definite conclusion about the effectiveness of simulation training / Health Studies / M.A. (Health Studies)