The purpose of the study was to develop a short course to inculcate the spirit of Ubuntu amongst the student nurses at Limpopo College of Nursing at Limpopo Province. A sequential explanatory research design was used and data was collected from one hundred and fifteen student nurses at the three (3) campuses for quantitative phase by means of structured interviews and ten (10) level III student nurses from each campus for qualitative phase by means of focus group discussions and reflective diaries. Ten (10) lecturers at the three campus participated in focus group discussions. Quantitative data analysis was done through descriptive analysis and findings were presented in frequencies, tables and charts. The qualitative data analysis was done through Tesch’s eight steps. There were similarities and differences in the themes and subthemes that were presented by all participants. There were also conflicting views from the same participants during qualitative and quantitative phases. The excerpts were presented to support all themes. The study found that Ubuntu needs to be inculcated through formal teaching and mentoring and that Ubuntu should be included in curriculum. Limpopo College of Nursing consists of student nurses from diverse cultures most of which are: Tsonga, Venda and Northern Sotho. They render nursing care to people of diverse cultures as globalisation has encouraged people to travel to different places. Media portrayal of the nursing care in public hospitals and clinics in South Africa is that of negativity. This is partially valid because, for example, the deterioration in nursing care in the public hospitals and clinics is as well evident in Limpopo Province in Mopani District (Bond 2002:1; Mohale & Mulaudzi 2008:61). Furthermore, Ubuntu is not effective if there is no correlation of theory and practice and evaluation of it in the clinical areas. Based on the findings and conclusion of the study, a short course on Ubuntu was developed after the consensus was reached among the participants and the experts who were consulted. / Health Studies / D. Lit. et Phil. (Health Studies)

Compassionate care is a crucial component of patient care in nursing practice in the broad context of holistic care. However, it is seemingly difficult for nurses to identify what exactly comprises compassionate care and how to provide it to patients. The purpose of the study was to explore the experiences of professional nurses on how they provide compassionate patient care. A qualitative descriptive study design based on narrative analysis was used. Thirteen professional nurses (PNs) from a private hospital were purposefully recruited to participate. Data was collected using written stories and professional lifelines. Data was analysed using thematic and narrative analysis. The following themes were identified such as treating the patient as a whole, inadequate knowledge and skills, and barriers to providing compassionate care. Future research using quantitative approach and large samples was recommended. / Health Studies / M.A. (Health Studies)

Cervical cancer remains the leading cause of cancer mortality among women worldwide, a burden in the developing countries and commonly detected through symptoms at later invasive stages. The study aimed at establishing knowledge and awareness of the importance of cervical cancer screening in the Makhuduthamaga Sub-district by exploring the perceptions of women and professional nurses and through the review of the National Cervical Cancer Screening Policy (2013). Recommendations to address the gap in knowledge and to inform the National Cervical Cancer Screening Policy were developed based on the study findings. A mixed-method approach was used in this study through a sequential explanatory design, which is quantitatively driven was used. Quantitative data were obtained by using a researcher developed checklist. The checklist was developed from variables stated in the National Cervical Cancer Screening Policy and was used to review its implementation. Qualitative data was obtained through in-depth interviews with individual women and focus group discussions with professional nurses. The study was conducted in ten randomly selected clinics of Makhuduthamaga Sub-district. Purposive sampling was done to obtain qualitative data. An average score of 9.7 was obtained for all ten clinics that participated in the study with regard to the evaluation of the implementation of the National Cervical Cancer Screening Policy. Only 6 (60%) clinics implemented the policy whereas 4 (40%) clinics did not implement the policy. Women and professional nurses perceived cervical cancer screening as important. Lack of knowledge among women regarding cervical cancer screening contributed to the majority of women not screening for cervical cancer. Lack of resources, the 10 year interval of normal cervical cancer screening, the use of disposable vaginal speculums and brushes, lack of standardized cervical cancer screening training, centralization of cytology laboratories came out as factors that negatively influence the uptake of cervical cancer screening. Cervical cancer screening awareness campaigns, availability of resources and standardized in-service trainings on cervical cancer screening were recommended to enhance the cervical cancer screening uptake. / Health Studies / D. Litt. et Phil. (Health Studies)

MPH / Department of Public Health

PhD (Advanced Nursing Sicence) / Department of Advanced Nursing Science

MPH / Department of Public Health / Antiretroviral treatment (ART) roll-out presents new opportunities and challenges for nurse-initiated-andmanaged antiretroviral treatment (NIMART) trained nurses in the primary health care (PHC) facilities. Nurses have had central role in the management of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) since the disease was first reported. The purpose of this study was to explore and describe the challenges confronting professional nurses implementing the NIMART programme in PHC facilities under Thulamela B Municipality, Vhembe District. This study used a qualitative approach in which the interview was used as a data collection technique. The target population comprised professional nurses who were trained in NIMART and who were implementing the programme. Probability sampling, in particular its sub-type, the simple random sampling technique, was used to select fifteen PHC facilities within the sub-District. The non-probability purposive sampling technique was used to select the NIMART-trained professional nurses in Thulamela B sub-District. The sample size was determined by data saturation. Data were collected from the participants through semi-structured interviews, observations and field notes to assist in transcription. A digital recorder was used to log individual responses during the interview sessions. Data from the digital recordings were transcribed verbatim. Results were analysed and interpreted thematically. This study establsihed that nurses were facing several challenges such as shortages of infrastructure and medication, lack of support from management and non-NIMART-trained nurses and discrimination. The NIMART programme was poorly supported in terms of nurse training as nurses indicated that they faced problems in performing tasks such as obtaining blood from children. Doctors were also reported to not fully supporting the NIMART programme. NIMART-trained nurses were optimistic with the implementation of the programme dispite the challenges they faced. To overcome some of the challenges faced at workplaces, nurses devised mechanisms such as allocating different times for collecting tablets and review, and group education for those consulting. It was also established that nurses provided support to each other. Nurses were reported to be using their own transport to collect drugs from the local pharmacy store. Recommendations that emanated from the discussion of the findings and the conclusions of this study are likely to have implications and applications for supporting and advancing the NIMART programme.

MCur / Department of Advanced Nursing Science / See the attached abstract below

PhDH / Department of Advanced Nursing Science / Introduction and background Professional nurses are responsible to supervise student nurses in the clinical areas in order to assist them in achieving the learning outcomes, develop clinical skills and competence; however, this role is overlooked as pinned to different factors influencing clinical supervision, including the related challenges regarding supervision. This study aimed to explore and describe professional nurses’ and student nurses’ perceptions of clinical supervision in training hospitals of Limpopo Province, South Africa. Research methodology The study used convergent parallel mixed methods design. The population in this study was professional nurses and student nurses working in seven training hospitals of Mopani and Vhembe district of Limpopo Province. Purposive sampling was used to sample districts, hospitals and student nurses whereas, convenience sampling was used to sample professional nurses. Self-administered questionnaires and focus group interviews were used in data collection. Quantitative data was v analysed using Statistical Package of Social Science (SPSS), version 22.0 and Tesch’s’ method was used to analyse qualitative data. Findings Perceptions of professional nurses and student nurses revealed several factors influencing supervision and challenges such as staff shortages, high number of student nurses allocated in clinical areas, heavy workload, inadequate material resources, poor communication and inadequate support. The findings were used in formulation of clinical supervision guidelines. Recommendations The recommendations of this study were based on the study findings. Intervention on the challenges of clinical supervision is recommended by utilisation of the formulated guidelines. This will assist in closing the existing gap regarding clinical supervision. / NRF

The Choice on Termination of Pregnancy Act (no 92 of 1996) was implemented during 1997. This study attempted to investigate professional nurses' attitudes towards rendering these services in the Carletonville area of South Africa. The research results, obtained from questionnaires completed by professional nurses, indicated that most professional nurses would prefer:  women to be at least 16 years of age to access these services  not to allow repeated terminations of pregnancy to the same women  to administer pills rather than to use vacuum aspirations  to work in these services by choice only  to have better equipment, more resources and more staff members in units offering these services  more support from their families, friends, managers and communities Some professional nurses experienced guilt, depression, anxiety and religious conflicts as a result of the nature of their work. / Health Studies / M.A. (Health Studies)

Text in English / In South Africa, retention of newly qualified professional nurses in public health institutions upon completion of their year of compulsory remunerated community service remains a challenge that exacerbates the shortage of professional nurses in these institutions. The literature indicates that many newly qualified professional nurses leave the public health institutions due to lack of professional development support and heavy workloads while they are still finding their feet. A mixed-methods design of concurrent triangulation approach was used to answer the question: How are the newly qualified professional nurses supported in terms of induction and professional development during community service in South Africa? Triangulation was achieved by using both quantitative and qualitative methods. Induction/orientation documents from public health institutions were analysed using a checklist. A survey questionnaire with mixed quantitative closed items (1–43) and qualitative open-ended questions (43–46) was sent to newly qualified professional nurses who had recently completed community service. Focus groups held with operational nurse managers and individual interviews with coordinators of community service for nurses yielded rich qualitative data. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to describe and synthesise data. The qualitative findings confirmed the quantitative findings. Findings were lack of professional development support in some public health institutions, informal, non-comprehensive support where given, shortage of experienced professional nurses, reluctance by some professional nurses and operational nurse managers to supervise newly qualified nurses, and increased workload due to the shortage of experienced professional nurses in the public health institutions. Inadequate clinical skills, poor discipline and lack of professionalism in the newly qualified professional nurses also played a part. Respondents suggested constructive recommendations for the induction and professional development support of the newly qualified professional nurses, and these were incorporated in the recommended guidelines for the induction and professional development support of newly qualified professional nurses during community service. / Health Studies / D. Litt. et Phil. (Health Studies)