Using the right method of evaluation for clinical competence in nursing education plays a major role in obtaining appropriate results and making correct judgements. Nurse educators favour the Objective Structured Clinical Assessment (OSCA) for this purpose. The objective of this study was two-fold; firstly to explore and describe the experiences of nurse educators and student nurses of the OSCA within a private nursing college in Gauteng. The second objective was to develop implementation guidelines for the use of the OSCA as an assessment method. A qualitative, exploratory, descriptive, and contextual design was used and employed individual in-depth interviews, as well as field and direct observations to collect data. A purposive sampling method was used to select participants for the study and the sample comprised of ten nurse educators and ten student nurses to represent the population. Data were analysed thematically and resulted in seven themes and eighteen categories relating to nurse educators’ and student nurses’ experiences of the OSCA. Nurse educators had a predominantly negative view of the OSCA as an assessment method related to the ability of the OSCA to assess all learning assessment method related to the ability of the OSCA to assess all learning domains, the quality, structure, and organisation of the assessment, the simulated nature of OSCA, the availability of resources, as well as the feedback, communication and remedial action during the process. Challenges were experienced with the assessment tools as well as the educator as instrument. Educators raised a concern regarding the students’ readiness for evaluation. Student nurses related their experiences prior to the OSCA, their experiences of the educator, the structure and organisation of the OSCA, and their experience related to the communication and feedback of the results. Students related mixed emotional experiences as recipients of the assessment, as well as the relevance and benefits of the OSCA / Health Studies / M.A. (Nursing Education)

The overall purpose of this study was to explore and describe the factors that affect theory-practice integration of student nurses at a selected campus of a nursing college in the Limpopo Province. Quantitative, descriptive, explorative and cross-sectional designs were used to accomplish the objectives of the study. Data collection was done using structured questionnaires with a few open-ended questions. The respondents were student nurses (n=106) and nurse educators (n=9). The findings revealed that failure of biological and natural sciences subjects, the use of traditional teaching strategies, inadequate use of simulation laboratory, inadequate clinical supervision, a shortage of resources, nature of the assessment process, extent of interest in the subject (s) taught, inability to draw clinical experiences during theoretical teaching, overpopulation of student nurses in the clinical area, negative attitude of ward staff and differences between the simulated skills and the actual clinical procedures in the ward affect theory-practice integration. / M.A. (Health Studies) / Health Studies

MCur / Department of Advanced Nursing Science / Nursing students’ absenteeism has become a very serious concern in every higher educational institution in the whole world especially those of nursing. This study was conducted to investigate factors leading to student nurses’ absenteeism in Limpopo College of Nursing during Psychiatric Nursing Science clinical placement. A quantitative approach using descriptive design was used. Purposive sampling method was used to get a sample of two hundred and six (206) of students who have absented themselves before. Data was collected through a self-report scale in the form of questionnaires of structured questions, entered and analysed using SPSS version 24. Ethical considerations were adhered to throughout. The correlation between clinical factors and absenteeism was determined. The main reported factors for absenteeism were: student nurses being treated as a workforce in the clinical areas; shortage of staff in the clinical areas; study for tests and examinations; inadequate supervision of student nurses by professional nurses; and being inconsiderate of student nurses request for days off in the clinical area. This study recommends that the college should make a provision of one week of study for student nurses between the period of clinical placement and tests or final examinations as most of the respondents indicated that they absent themselves due to study for tests and examinations. The Department of Health should find a way of not overworking students due to shortage of staff in the wards but consider them for experiential learning. A research study should be conducted to develop a model to reduce student nurses absenteeism. / NRF

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to develop a visual concept map that could assist nurse educators in explaining the concept ‘nursing’ so that students have a similar understanding, meaning and interpretation thereof. Methodology: An exploratory and descriptive qualitative study was conducted to develop a visual conceptual map that can help in the common understanding and interpretation of the concept ‘nursing’. Research approach: A qualitative research approach was used. The research approach consisted of four phases: Phase 1: A self-designed online questionnaire was used to obtain information from the nurses, registered with South African Nursing Council (SANC) and members of Democratic Nursing Organisation of South Africa (DENOSA), about their interpretation of the meaning of ‘nursing’. Phase 2 included the integrative review that was used to obtain in-depth meaning of the concept ‘nursing’ from relevant literature and documentation. Phase 3: The two sets of analysed data from Phase 1 and Phase 2 were combined and used to develop the visual conceptual map. Phase 4: The developed visual concept map was validated by the nurse educators inaugurated in Sigma Theta Tau International, the Africa Region Chapters, in order to provide a validated visual concept map based on their expertise in Africa. The outcome of the study: A validated visual concept map, agreed upon by nurse educators inaugurated in Sigma Theta Tau International, the Africa Region Chapters, based on their expertise in Africa, is available and may be of great benefit for nurse educators in teaching the meaning of the concept of nursing to student nurses in their institutions. As a teaching tool, this concept map might assist educators in explaining the meaning and interpretation of the concept ‘nursing’. / Health Studies / Ph. D. (Nursing)

The purpose of this study was to determine the contribution of unit managers towards the training of student nurses coming to their units for clinical practica. The sample consisted of students training in the four nursing colleges in the Cape Peninsula, and unit managers working in health services accommodating students for clinical practica in the same area. The findings revealed that the majority of unit managers were teaching students whenever they had the opportunity. Generally unit managers were prepared for their teaching function, but many students were not satisfied with some clinical learning opportunities presented to them, for example drawing up patients' care plans, discussing patients' treatment plans when handing over report, giving assistance regarding patient care decisions and lending support when students are confronted with patient care problems. There appears to be a need to educate unit managers regarding these and other aspects of the students' training programme. / Health Studies / M.A. (Nursing Science)

Text in English / The purpose of the study was to describe and explore the experiences of student nurses in caring for mental health users with profound intellectual disabilities in one of the care and rehabilitation centre at Gauteng province incorporating the Common Sense Model. Qualitative descriptive and explorative research was conducted to explore the experiences of student caring for mental health care users with profound intellectual disabilities and to recommend the best practices in caring for mental health care users with profound intellectual disabilities. Data collection was done using reflective diaries and in depth interviews. Twelve participants participated in the study. The study composed of student nurses (n=12) caring for mental health care users with profound intellectual disabilities. Five themes emerged from the study i.e. emotionally challenging, communication difficulties, lack of knowledge on the nature of intellectual disability, burden of care and mixed feelings. Findings of the study revealed that completing nurses find working with profound intellectual disabilities to be emotionally challenging and that negative experiences outweigh the positive experiences, resulting in their reluctance to want to work with profound intellectual disability users. It is therefore incumbent upon policy makers and hospital administrators to take cognisance of these negative feelings so that ways of minimising these frustrations and promoting the wellbeing of nurses caring for mental health care users with profound intellectual disabilities are promoted. / Health Studies / M.A. (Health Studies)

The purpose of this study was to explore first year student nurses’ experiences of encounters with death and dying of a patient during clinical practice so as to make recommendations on increase support for first year student nurses. Qualitative research which was explorative, descriptive and contextual was conducted. Data collection was done using in-depth unstructured interview. Nine participants were interviewed and data was analysed. The findings revealed that lack of knowledge, emotional trauma, low self-esteem and nutritional disorder are the results of dealing with death and dying of patients for first year student nurses. Negative attitudes of clinical professionals, shortage of staff and congested block programme were identified as some aspects worsening the situation. Incidental learning that occurs with negative experience encountered was also identified. The findings show the need for review of curriculum for first year student nurses and the need for change of attitudes of clinical professionals / Health Studies / M.A. (Health Studies)

Text in English / The purpose of the study was to describe and explore the experiences of student nurses in caring for mental health users with profound intellectual disabilities in one of the care and rehabilitation centre at Gauteng province incorporating the Common Sense Model. Qualitative descriptive and explorative research was conducted to explore the experiences of student caring for mental health care users with profound intellectual disabilities and to recommend the best practices in caring for mental health care users with profound intellectual disabilities. Data collection was done using reflective diaries and in depth interviews. Twelve participants participated in the study. The study composed of student nurses (n=12) caring for mental health care users with profound intellectual disabilities. Five themes emerged from the study i.e. emotionally challenging, communication difficulties, lack of knowledge on the nature of intellectual disability, burden of care and mixed feelings. Findings of the study revealed that completing nurses find working with profound intellectual disabilities to be emotionally challenging and that negative experiences outweigh the positive experiences, resulting in their reluctance to want to work with profound intellectual disability users. It is therefore incumbent upon policy makers and hospital administrators to take cognisance of these negative feelings so that ways of minimising these frustrations and promoting the wellbeing of nurses caring for mental health care users with profound intellectual disabilities are promoted. / Health Studies / M.A. (Health Studies)

The purpose of this study was to explore first year student nurses’ experiences of encounters with death and dying of a patient during clinical practice so as to make recommendations on increase support for first year student nurses. Qualitative research which was explorative, descriptive and contextual was conducted. Data collection was done using in-depth unstructured interview. Nine participants were interviewed and data was analysed. The findings revealed that lack of knowledge, emotional trauma, low self-esteem and nutritional disorder are the results of dealing with death and dying of patients for first year student nurses. Negative attitudes of clinical professionals, shortage of staff and congested block programme were identified as some aspects worsening the situation. Incidental learning that occurs with negative experience encountered was also identified. The findings show the need for review of curriculum for first year student nurses and the need for change of attitudes of clinical professionals / Health Studies / M. A. (Health Studies)

The shortage of nurses is a global problem and the selection and education of nursing students is of primary concern. At present, nurse educators at some nursing colleges in Gauteng Province experience problems with the type of students accepted for training and education. The situation is exacerbated by the difference in selection criteria applied for the acceptance of nurse students. Accordingly, the purpose of this study was to explore nurse educators’ perceptions of the current selection criteria and describe the criteria that they would recommend for better selection, retention and training of nurses. The study was conducted at a nursing college in the West Rand Region, Johannesburg. The college trains first-year nursing students before promotion to second-year level at Chris Hani Baragwanath Nursing College, where they complete their training. The researcher selected a qualitative, exploratory and descriptive research design and data was collected from 19 participants, aged between 35 and 60, in three focus group discussions. A grand tour question and probing questions were asked to elicit deep, rich discussion and data. The researcher took field notes during the interviews. The findings of the study revealed discrepancies between the selection criteria applied by the Gauteng Department of Health, the Department of Labour, the SANC and the nursing college management; nurse educators’ feeling of disempowerment related to non-participation as stakeholders in student nurses’ selection; students’ inability to cope with course content revealed that there is a gap between Gauteng Department of Health, Gauteng nursing college management, nurse educators and labour department and a need for review of selection criteria for nursing students, and lack of support from management. The study makes recommendations for practice and nursing education which should assist all the stakeholders in developing selection criteria for nursing students and course content. / Health Studies / M. A. (Nursing Science)