Registered nurses are the first contact for individuals seeking medical attention in the health system. These nurses have leaders who encourage them and they have goals and dreams to reach. The leadership of a hospital are responsible for creating a positive working environment so as to maintain job satisfaction for all. When subordinates are satisfied with their job they tend to stay and become more productive in their workplace. Leadership has an influence on the level of job satisfaction and therefore influences whether they leave or stay in the workplace. The objectives of the study were to describe the status of leadership, job satisfaction and the intention to leave among registered nurses in hospitals in the North-West and Free State Provinces. The relationship between leadership, job satisfaction and intention to leave among registered nurses in hospitals in the North-West and Free State Provinces was also investigated. The research design in this study was quantitative, descriptive, explanatory and contextual in nature. The sample included registered nurses (RNs) in medical and surgical units in both private and public hospitals in the North-West and Free State provinces of South Africa, (n = 204). Data was collected using the RN4CAST questionnaire. EpiData and SPSS statistical programmes were used to analyze data. The results of the study showed that most registered nurses were satisfied with the items of leadership except for the praise and recognition item (55.7%). Most registered nurses showed high levels of overall job satisfaction (70.5%), but were dissatisfied with wages (50%), study leave (40.9%) and opportunity for advancement (40.1%). Furthermore, the registered nurses showed high intention to leave their current hospitals (46.1%). The results also indicated a relationship between leadership, job satisfaction and intention to leave among registered nurses in medical and surgical wards in both private and public hospitals. Recommendations for policy, education, practice and future research were made. / Thesis (MCur)--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2013.

Registered nurses are the first contact for individuals seeking medical attention in the health system. These nurses have leaders who encourage them and they have goals and dreams to reach. The leadership of a hospital are responsible for creating a positive working environment so as to maintain job satisfaction for all. When subordinates are satisfied with their job they tend to stay and become more productive in their workplace. Leadership has an influence on the level of job satisfaction and therefore influences whether they leave or stay in the workplace. The objectives of the study were to describe the status of leadership, job satisfaction and the intention to leave among registered nurses in hospitals in the North-West and Free State Provinces. The relationship between leadership, job satisfaction and intention to leave among registered nurses in hospitals in the North-West and Free State Provinces was also investigated. The research design in this study was quantitative, descriptive, explanatory and contextual in nature. The sample included registered nurses (RNs) in medical and surgical units in both private and public hospitals in the North-West and Free State provinces of South Africa, (n = 204). Data was collected using the RN4CAST questionnaire. EpiData and SPSS statistical programmes were used to analyze data. The results of the study showed that most registered nurses were satisfied with the items of leadership except for the praise and recognition item (55.7%). Most registered nurses showed high levels of overall job satisfaction (70.5%), but were dissatisfied with wages (50%), study leave (40.9%) and opportunity for advancement (40.1%). Furthermore, the registered nurses showed high intention to leave their current hospitals (46.1%). The results also indicated a relationship between leadership, job satisfaction and intention to leave among registered nurses in medical and surgical wards in both private and public hospitals. Recommendations for policy, education, practice and future research were made. / Thesis (MCur)--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2013.

Professional and personal caregivers of persons with Alzheimer’s disease (AD) receive little or no training with regards to the nature, course and accompanying communication challenges of this illness (Haak, 2003). The main aim of the research study was to investigate the interaction between nursing home staff and persons with AD with in a nursing home context, before and after attending a communication-orientated educational workshop for the nursing home staff. Research was carried out by using multiple single case studies. A pre-experimental design was used as the research method. The four participants’ communication skills (verbal, nonverbal and paralinguistic) were evaluated by using the Pragmatic Protocol (Prutting and Kirchner, 1987). Their listening skills were observed and scored according to the Checklist of listening behaviours (Hartley, 1995). A questionnaire was designed to measure the participants’ knowledge and perceptions of different AD aspects. Various shortcomings were identified in the interaction process which highlights the importance of training staff to become competent in using communication strategies that facilitate more successful interaction with persons with AD. The communication-orientated educational workshop (event of the study) was designed according to the data that was collected and based on the person-centred approach of Kitwood (1997). The participants’ communication and listening skills, knowledge and perceptions were evaluated again in the posttest (after the workshop) to determine whether or not there had been a change in these areas. A general view of all the participants’ results showed that there was a significant change in their communication and listening skills. The interaction process was more appropriate during the posttest in comparison to the results that were obtained in the pretest. The participants’ interaction were based more on the principles of the person-centred approach to dementia care than the pretest. There had been a noticeable increase after the workshop in the participants’ knowledge and change to a more positive perception towards persons with AD and the illness. The conclusion has been reached that attendance and participation in a communication-orientated educational workshop leads to more positive interaction with persons with AD. This study has motivated the need for dementia care that is based on the principles of the person-centred approach. It is suggested that an increase in the person-centred approach leads to improvement in quality of life of persons with AD as well as the decrease of the effect of institutionalization in a nursing home setting. Suggestions for future research include that attention should be given to educational programmes with regards to communication strategies for persons with AD. It has furthermore been suggested to approach managers of nursing homes regarding future inservice training of their nursing home staff. / Dissertation (M(Communication Pathology))--University of Pretoria, 2007. / Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology / unrestricted

Any factor that interferes with a child’s ability to interact with the environment in a normal manner is a potential source of, or contributing factor to, the presence of a developmental delay (Rossetti, 2001). According to Bam (2001) the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) is considered as an established risk factor under the category of serious infections and does not only have a negative effect on the normal development of a child, but also leads to serious audiological complications (Bankaitis&Schountz, 1998). Heterogeneity of auditory manifestations in individuals with HIV/AIDS is a feature of this virus (Friedman&Noffsinger, 1998). When considering the wide spectrum of audiological problems associated with pediatric HIV/AIDS, the role of the audiologist in the treatment of these children are highlighted (Bankaitis, 1998). Effective treatment of this heterogeneous population can however only take place within a team of medical professionals as their complex needs require a wide spectrum of skills (McNeilly, 2000). In South Africa nursing personnel play an important role in the early identification of a hearing loss and other audiological abnormalities (Thathiah, 2001). Part of a nurse’s job involve the provision of services in hearing health care, therefore they can serve as assistants for the audiological profession (Thathiah, 2001). Although rehabilitation services in rural areas are limited, developmental disabilities can be prevented or minimized if it is identified early. Early identification of hearing losses and other audiological abnormalities associated with HIV/AIDS can however only take place if nursing personnel have the necessary knowledge and skills to address these problems efficiently. To thus provide optimal audiological services to children with HIV/AIDS nursing personnel must be able to function as a link between the audiologist and the community. In the light of the current government involvement with the provision of optimal health care service to people with HIV and Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS), it is necessary to recognize and address the audiological needs of these individuals. The aim of this study was to determine the perception of nursing personnel, working in state hospitals in North West, regarding the audiological manifestations of HIV/AIDS in the pediatric population. A quantitive research design was employed in the form of a descriptive survey. The knowledge of 156 nursing personnel, working in fifteen different state hospitals in North West, was assessed through the use of a self-constructed questionnaire. This research concluded that the majority of the nursing personnel do not have sufficient knowledge regarding hearing health care and HIV/AIDS within the pediatric population. The assumption can thus be made that these children don’t get sufficient and effective intervention services and this will effect their development as well as quality of life negatively. Furthermore, respondents appeared not to have fully realized the importance of their role as health workers within the audiological context. The nursing personnel identified a need for information regarding the audiological manifestations of HIV/AIDS in the pediatric population and there appears to be a specific role for the audiologist in training the nurses regarding this above mentioned issue. This study emphasizes the importance of early identification and intervention of hearing disorders in children, especially children with HIV, within South Africa and indicates the need for further research with regards to this population. / Dissertation (MCommunication Pathology)--University of Pretoria, 2008. / Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology / unrestricted