Thesis (MCur)--Stellenbosch University, 2015. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Controversy was observed regarding the opinions of nursing managers on the role of patient
care workers (PCWs) in private hospitals. These opinions ranged from praise for their
contribution towards patient care to serious concerns about the impact of their role on patient
safety. The aim of this study was therefore to explore the role of PCWs in private hospitals
in the Cape Metropole, South Africa.
A qualitative approach with a descriptive design was applied to explore the role of PCWs as
perceived by unit managers, nurses and patient care workers. Purposive sampling was
used to select participants from medical and surgical wards from three different private
hospitals, one each from the three major private hospital groups in South Africa (n=15).
Permission to conduct the study was obtained from the Health Research Ethics Committee
of the Stellenbosch University, as well as from the private hospital organisations.
Fifteen semi-structured interviews were conducted, transcribed and analysed. Six themes
emerged from the data. These included PCW activities, care organisation, position in the
patient care team, training, reasons for employment and concerns about the PCW role. The
findings indicated strong similarities with the health care asistant role as described in the
literature study. The activities of PCWs are focused on direct patient care and they spend
much time with patients. They are close observers of the patient’s condition and report to
nurses. PCWs seem to be well integrated into the patient care team and are mostly seen as
nurses.
Yet, there are concerns about their evolving role despite their limited training programmes
and the lack of direct supervision. The researcher recommends that the work of PCWs
should be regulated, but that the nursing profession should critically evaluate the need for
another nursing category in addition to that of the enrolled nurse auxiliary. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Teenstrydigheid is waargeneem met betrekking tot die opinies van verpleegbestuurders oor
die rol van pasiёntsorgwerkers (PSWs) in privaat hospitale. Hierdie opinies het variëer van
waardering vir hul bydrae tot pasiёntsorg tot ernstige besorgdheid oor die impak van hulle rol
op pasiënt veiligheid. Die doel van hierdie studie was dus om die rol van PSWs in privaat
hospitale in die Kaapse Metropool in Suid Afrika te ondersoek.
‘n Kwalitatiewe benadering met ‘n beskrywende ontwerp is gevolg om die rol van PSWs,
soos waargeneem deur eenheidsbestuurders, verpleegsters en PSWs self, te ondersoek.
Doelgerigte steekproeftrekking is gebruik om deelnemers van mediese en chirurgiese sale
uit drie verskillende privaat hospitale, een uit elk van die drie grootste privaat hospitaal
organisasies in Suid Afrika, te kies (n=15). Toestemming om die studie te doen is verkry
van die Etiek Komitee vir Gesondheidsorgnavorsing van die Universiteit van Stellenbosch
sowel as van die privaat hospitaal organisasies.
Vyftien semi-gestruktureerde onderhoude is gevoer, woordeliks getik en ge-analiseer. Ses
temas het uit die data na vore gekom. Dit sluit die aktiwiteite van PSWs, die organisering
van sorg, plek in die pasiёntsorg span, opleiding, redes vir indiensneming en besorgdheid
oor die rol van PSWs. Die bevindinge toon ‘n sterk ooreenkoms met die rol van die
gesondheidsorg assistent soos beskryf in die literatuur. PSWs fokus op direkte pasiёntsorg
en spandeer baie tyd met pasiёnte. Weens hulle nabyheid aan die pasiёnt, kan hulle die
pasiёnt se toestand waarneem en bevindings rapporteer aan verpleegsters. PSWs is
oёnskynlik goed geїntegreer in die pasiёntsorgspan en word meesal as verpleegsters
beskou. Tog is daar besorgdheid oor die uitbreiding van hulle rol ten spyte van beperkte
opleidingsprogramme en ‘n gebrek aan toesighouding. Die navorser stel voor dat die werk
van PSWs gereguleer behoort te word, maar ook dat die verpleegprofessie die nodigheid
van ‘n addisionele kategorie tot die assistent verpleegster, krities moet evalueer.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:sun/oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/97029 |
| Date | 04 1900 |
| Creators | Aylward, Louise Annet |
| Contributors | Crowley, Talitha, Stellenberg, Ethelwynn, Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Health Sciences. Interdisciplinary Health Sciences. Nursing. |
| Publisher | Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | en_ZA |
| Detected Language | Unknown |
| Type | Thesis |
| Format | 87 pages |
| Rights | Stellenbosch University |
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