Class of 2005 Abstract / Objectives: The level of nurses’ satisfaction relative to pharmacy services provided at a rural medical center was evaluated and compared to data collected in a previous study at the same institution. Information obtained was utilized to determine potential areas for pharmacy service improvements. Methods: This project employed a survey research design in order to acquire demographic and descriptive data. The instrument contained 43 items including 34 scaled, 7 demographic, and 2 open-ended items. Aspects assessed by this instrument included accessibility of pharmacists, accuracy of medication delivery, quality of drug information services, and perceptions of pharmacists’ value by nursing staff. All inpatient nurse practitioners, licensed practical nurses, and registered nurses who were employed at the medical center in the winter of 2004 were eligible to participate in this study. Results: A total of 199 surveys were returned for a response rate of 43.9%. The overall level of nurses’ satisfaction with pharmacy services at the medical center had not significantly changed between the years of 2000 and 2004; however, several specific areas of pharmaceutical services changed over time. The level of nurses’ satisfaction with pharmacy services was increased in relation to the communication between pharmacists and nurses and decreased in relation to technology associated pharmacy services. Implications: The data obtained using the instrument was evaluated in order to make recommendations to the medical center Department of Pharmacy. An instrument was developed and validated to discern nurses’ level of satisfaction with pharmacy services. This methodology may be used at other institutions.

Student Number : 9802242A - MSc research report - School of Therapeutic Sciences - Faculty of Health Sciences / Introduction: The nursing profession in South Africa has lost skilled nurses due to intense international recruitment drives. This hospital in the West Rand has also failed to recruit and retain skilled nurses. The shortage of skilled nurses has led to a deterioration in the quality of patient care. The aims of this study: The aim of this study was to investigate nurses’ perceptions about their working environment and conditions, and their intention to stay in the workplace in this regional hospital. The methodology: A quantitative, descriptive survey was used. The data were collected using the Minnesota satisfaction questionnaire. The sample included professional and sub professional (staff and auxiliary) nurses. A stratified (random) sampling method was used. Respondents were one hundred and seventeen (117), namely, sixty two (62) professionals and fifty five (55) sub professionals. Results: Generally all the nurses were moderately satisfied with the intrinsic aspects of their job, such as motivation, responsibility, opportunity for creativity and innovation, independence, and recognition. Alarmingly nurses were to a greater extent dissatisfied with the extrinsic aspects of their job, namely, relationships in the workplace, supervisors’ decision-making skills, supervision, working conditions, policies, job security, and compensation. Conclusions: This study indicated that the important extrinsic aspects were not in place. The employer (Department of Health) needs to make major efforts in improving nurses’ salaries, promotion and advancement opportunities, and to empower all unit and area managers in the areas of supervisory skills, decision-making, communication, and mentoring of nurses.