The study investigated the experiences of remaining nurse tutors at the Free State School of Nursing during the transformation of Nursing Colleges and downsizing of personnel. The study aimed at describing the experiences of individuals during changes in their work environment, with the purpose of contributing to the identification of guidelines for 'surviving' transformation and downsizing at the workplace. Three themes emerged from this study through the narrative descriptions and unstructured interviews. The first theme, affective responses, dealt with emotions, low morale, depressive moods and anxiety caused by transformation and downsizing. The second theme, cognitive and perceptual view, revealed the thoughts, beliefs, and opinions of remaining nurse tutors regarding transformation and downsizing. Perceptions of and opinions on how nursing education and human dignity were affected were also expressed. The third theme portrayed the coping responses, which described work-related personal and social adjustments nurse tutors made during the transformation of nursing colleges. Recommendations included communication, participation and counseling of nurse tutors and to meet the requirements of nursing colleges during transformation and downsizing. / Health Studies / M.A. (Nursing Science)

This study focuses on the psycho-social challenges faced by HIV/AIDS lay counsellors at a Voluntary Counselling and Testing (VCT) site in Tshwane, South Africa. A qualitative approach was employed by using semi-structured interviews with open-ended questions to obtain information from four lay counsellors, who provide pre- and post-test counselling at a VCT site. The results indicate that the management of clients’ emotions and needs pose enormous challenges to HIV/AIDS lay counsellors who do not receive any formal psycho-social support at VCT sites. The research participants in this study resort to their own coping mechanisms to deal with the challenges – with varying degrees of success. The recommendation is made that a formal support programme should be put in place at VCT sites, which will allow HIV/AIDS lay counsellors to respond to the many demands placed on them. Such a programme can help prevent burnout and a high turnover in lay counsellors. / Social Work / M. A. (Social Behaviour Studies in HIV/AIDS)

Text in Afrikaans / Children in children’s homes often make use of specific behaviour - defined as contact boundary disturbances in Gestalt theory - as a result of their intense emotional needs, but also to protect themselves or to be assertive in their current environment. This qualitative, applied study aimed to determine and describe the way the child care workers of a rural child and youth care centre manage and experience the contact boundary disturbances of children in the children’s home. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with eight child care workers. In conducting the study, the researcher found that the child care workers had inadequate knowledge and insight regarding contact boundary disturbances and how to handle it. It was concluded that the management of children’s homes must ensure that training and support are provided to child care workers so that their needs are addressed in order to prevent burnout. Recommendations that will be valuable with respect to the handling skills and emotional experiences of child care workers were made. / Social Work / M. Diac. (Spelterapie)