Caring for patients in an acute medical ward occurs in a complex and dynamic environment. Prioritisation of goals and activities represents one element of effective planning and delivery of care. The importance of priority setting has been highlighted in the nursing literature for over twenty-five years; however, there would appear to be no systematic study of this key skill. This thesis explores priority setting within a novice/expert framework, using a mixed methods approach. In addition to using simulation it investigates real-time priority setting within actual clinical practice. Study one used simulation in four groups with a range of nursing experience. This included one group of non-nurses for comparison. Participants were asked to prioritise twelve care activities presented in a simulated case-load. Analysis demonstrated that the simulation evoked priority setting behaviour, and differences in priority setting were seen. Study two combined the simulated case-load with think-aloud method. Semistructured interview completed the data collection. Findings were consistent with Benner’s ovice/expert framework, suggesting that prioritisation is determined by two main characteristics, the views, values and perceptions of the nurse, and key skills, knowledge and experience. Study three used think-aloud method to examine priority setting in clinical practice, comparing junior student nurses with senior staff nurses. This was supplemented by observation and semi-structured interview. Findings from this study identified differences in cognitive processes, and priority setting strategies. Developing critical thinking skills, expert role modelling, and the use of an active apprenticeship model may facilitate skill acquisition. This thesis highlights the complexity of priority setting in caring for patients in an acute medical ward. It explores the development of this skill in learner nurses, and demonstrated a range of methods for studying decision-making in both simulated and clinical settings.

The study examines the role of ward committees in facilitating public participation with particular reference to Mamelodi, South Africa. This study is aimed at establishing whether ward committees serve as effective mechanisms to promote public participation in local government and administration. As a result, the study investigates the composition, functioning and responsibilities of ward committees, and their contributions towards effective and efficient municipal government. Qualitative research methodology is adopted, towards the realisation of the aims and objectives of the study. Accordingly, an interview schedule was utilised as a tool that contains the pre-determined questions prepared in order to acquire insight, knowledge and application of the people who are directly involved and familiar with the ward committee processes. An empirical study was conducted to determine if the research answers the problem statement, and also to measure the failures and success of ward committees in enhancing public participation. The findings proved that ward committees are confronted with a conglomerate of challenges where their functioning tends to be compromised. Consequently, the study made some recommendations after the various arguments relating to the subject matter were presented. This is done, in an attempt to improve the capacity of ward committees and all institutions that play a role in the enhancement of public participation. / Dissertation (MAdmin)--University of Pretoria, 2011. / School of Public Management and Administration (SPMA) / unrestricted

No description available.

M.Cur. (Professional Nursing) / The shortage of professional nurses necessitates the optimal utilisation of the professional nurses and auxiliary staff available to unit managers in academic nursing units. The optimal utilisation of human resources, funds, stock and methods constitutes effective management. The unit manager is responsible for the achievement of objectives means of effective management enabling the optimal utilisation and productive functioning of her staff in the provision of quality nursing. Retaining auxiliary staff is often as difficult as retraining nurses and they will not be attracted to hospital work if there is no clear occupational structure. This study questions the expectations (knowledge and insight) of uni t managers as well as ward clerks regarding the duties and responsibilities of the ward clerk in an academic hospital nursing unit in Johannesburg. The value of a structured educational programme for ward clerks in order to improve their capabilities profile (knowledge and insight) was also examined. The objectives with this study were: to determine the expectations (insight and knowledge) of unit managers as well as ward clerks regarding the duties and responsibilities of the ward clerk (in an academic hospital nursing unit): to design, implement and evaluate an educational programme for ward clerks: and to determine the effect of that programme on the capabilities profile (knowledge and insight) of the ward clerk.

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This study is concerned with analyzing the ways in which the members of an organization faced with problems of unpredictability and uncertainty, adapt to the situation and achieve some degree of control over it. Chapter 1 describes the organization within which the study was conducted, and also discusses the methodology employed. Chapter 2 reviews the literature pertinent to the problem, both on the spheres of organization theory and medical sociology. Chapter 3 describes the role and mode of adaptation of the physician to the situation. Chapter 4 examines the role of the head nurse and her relations with other ward members. Chapter 4 examines the role of the head nurse and her relations with other ward members. Chapter 5 provides an analysis of the sources of tension and conflict in the ward and the final chapter contains a summery of the previous arguments and a discussion of their pertinence to sociological theory. / Thesis / Master of Arts (MA)

The purpose of this research is to explore through a critical lens the ways in which independence planning for crown wards is reflected in recording documents and the extent to which such documentation suggests the nature of continued involvement with the youth in such planning processes. Data were gathered by examining planning documents used by Child Welfare agencies in Ontario for crown wards. To accommodate the evolving emergence of themes and conceptual patterns revealed in the data, a grounded theory approach and constant comparative method was used as detailed by Charmaz (2006). Independence planning involved crown wards in developing visitation plans with members of the family of origin, and included goal setting pertaining to the development of social skills and acquisition of educational qualifications and instrumental skills. The planning documents lacked specific behavioural examples, contextual understanding, specific examples of the efforts undertaken by CAS workers and caregivers to support goals, and examples of discussions between workers and crown wards. Planning documents generally reflected little involvement of the crown ward. Planning and OnLAC documents require modification so as to allow for and encourage qualitative information and greater input from the crown ward. Such modifications ought to be understood by Child Welfare management in terms of making planning processes more useful and beneficial to crown wards and CAS workers. / Thesis / Master of Social Work (MSW)

A Study on the Feasibility of the Official Appointment of Sub-ward (Li) Chiefs ¡X A Case of Kaohsiung City The purpose of this study was to propose the results of the empirical investigation utilizing the SWOT analysis of the official appointment of sub-ward (Li) chiefs, which revealed the high feasibility of the official appointment. The data germane to this study were disposed through documentary analysis research along with questionnaire survey research and observation research. The subjects of this exploration were categorized into two major groups. One is the public surveyed by telephone resulting in 1017 successful samples; the other is the local officials surveyed by questionnaires including 463 sub-ward (Li) chiefs with a return rate of 74.3% (310), and 271 sub-ward (Li) clerks with a high return rate of 88.2% (239). The results of the survey reveal high credibility which can be seen in chapter three. The results of official appointment were depicted as follows: 1. The advantages of the official appointment: (a) downsizing the administrative organizations, simplifying the administrative procedures, and increasing the effectiveness; (b) slimming down the manpower and cutting down the spending; (c) improving the relationships between the sub-ward (Li) administrative organizations and the community development associations; (d) reducing the expenditures for election and rectifying the vicious election practices; and ; (e) promoting the administrative efficiency without violating democracy. 2. The disadvantages of the official appointment: (a) violating the principles of democracy; (b) violating the principles of local self-governing; (c) increasing the workload after merging the positions of sub-ward (Li) chiefs and clerks; (d) diminishing sub-ward (Li) chiefs¡¦ enthusiasm towards their work; and (e) lowering the functions of community development associations. 3. The reflection of the official appointment: (a) enhancing the local harmony; (b) incurring criticism from the self-benefiting of without-pay elected sub-ward (Li) chiefs¡¦; (c) requesting the government to examine the overlapping functions of sub-ward (Li) chiefs and clerks; and (d) the official appointment of township chiefs becomes the best paradigm of that of sub-ward (Li) chiefs. 4. The threat of the official appointment: (a) accumulating resentment; (b) damaging people¡¦s rights by failing to precisely respond to local situations. Finally, the findings and recommendations of this study were as follows: 1. The author suggests that the government should be more determined to reasonably adjust the boroughs for sub-ward (Li) and village chiefs¡¦ ¡§equal pay for equal work;¡¨ meanwhile, as the number of boroughs decreases, the resistance for official appointment could be reduced and the workload of appointed sub-ward (Li) chiefs would be more even as well. 2. Not only does the official appointment of township chiefs promote administrative efficiency and economizes enormous expenditures, but whose successful experience in reform can be the example for the reform of sub-ward (Li) and village offices. 3. It is believed that appointed sub-ward (Li) chiefs will perform better than elected sub-ward (Li) chiefs. Although there are no existing rules about disciplining elected sub-ward (Li) chiefs, appointed sub-ward (Li) chiefs will be subjected to administrative disciplinary measures or even removed from positions for not fulfilling their duty. Hence, it would be easier to carry out the official appointment of sub-ward (Li) chiefs if borough offices can strengthen sub-ward (Li) chiefs¡¦ functions of reflecting people¡¦s opinions before the cancellation of the sub-ward (Li) chief elections. Key Word¡GSub-ward (Li) Chiefs ¡Bthe Official Appointment of Sub-ward (Li) Chiefs ¡BKaohsiung City ¡Bsurvey research

Using Soft Systems Methodology, this dissertation presents an evaluation of the incidence of HIV/AIDS among ABET educators and learners in the Lebombo Ward Centres. The researcher aims to recommend ways and means that it is hoped could decrease the alarmingly high death rate of educators and learners in this part of northern KwaZulu-Natal. The painful physical and emotional effects of the virulent HIV/AIDS pandemic, and also the longterm consequences for both individuals and their families, are making many ABET educators' lives extremely complex and difficult. Many ABET Centres are facing teething problems connected to HIV/AIDS because centre managers and tutors do not have sufficient knowledge, skills and resources to be able to cope proactively and resourcefully with the difficulties that confront them. The unabated spread of HIV/AIDS in this particular area (Lebombo) is damaging and ravaging the society and undermining education at large. The researcher also wants to contribute towards a stage being reached, both by the education authorities and by individuals within the society, at which relevant and effective ways and means can be found to understand better the underlying factors that are feeding this scourge, to transmit requisite knowledge more effectively, and to introduce measures that will begin to turn around the tragically high incidence of HIV/AIDS in this area. Further, the researcher will point to, and explore, social issues and social behaviours that are impacting negatively on the spread of HIV/AIDS, such as sexual abuse of schoolgirls by educators, the widespread practising of unprotected sex by educators, the disregard for human rights that this entails, continuing gender-based prejudices, the prevalence of superstition, and the tendency among many people to disregard warnings about HIV/AIDS. / Thesis (M.Com.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, 2008.