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The theory and practice of undergraduate nursing ethics education programs in South Africa and Namibia : a critical appraisal

Thesis (PhD)--Stellenbosch University, 2015. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The history and evolution of nursing ethics situate caring as a central value of nursing. Since ancient
times, codes of conduct, developed by societies, have protected the vulnerable. The value system of
nursing in South Africa and Namibia is derived from Christian missionaries who hailed from England and
Europe. Florence Nightingale is recognised as the founder of modern nursing and established a firm
ethical foundation for nursing. Nursing ethics education has various aims, i.e. promotion of ethical
insight of nurses and protection of patients. Ethics education is confronted daily with many challenges
with continuous efforts to address these challenges through innovations. Throughout its history, the
nursing profession has responded to moral challenges by developing ethical codes with guiding
principles for nursing practice. An ethic of care gained ground as an important approach in nursing
practice. The values and obligations proclaimed in the codes of ethics of some countries and the
International Council of Nurses reveal shared values and beliefs in nursing. These codes of ethics
describe the obligation of nurses towards patients, the nursing profession, society, co-workers and
themselves as individual nurses. Nurses ought to develop certain required character traits. Aristotle’s
ideas on intellectual virtues and practical wisdom specifically may provide nursing ethics educators with
a viable approach in the teaching-learning of nursing ethics. The status of nursing ethics education in
South Africa and Namibia revealed variability in most aspects of undergraduate nursing ethics education
in institutions of higher education. This lack of standardisation complicates assessment of the quality of
nursing ethics education. Nursing ethics educators in South Africa and Namibia identified challenges
regarding the teaching-learning environment, practising nurses, students and educators as well as
challenges related to the regulatory authorities and political and legislative framework. Suggestions to
address these challenges were also offered by the nursing ethics educators. The effective internalisation
of nursing values requires the efforts of nursing educators, students, practising nurses as well as
stakeholders beyond institutions of higher learning. A critical assessment of nursing ethics education in
South Africa and Namibia highlighted certain deficiencies in relation to regulatory and managerial
aspects in nursing education and various issues related to nursing education generally and nursing ethics
education specifically. Improving nursing ethics education needs nursing ethics educator specialisation,
standardisation of ethics education and innovative teaching-learning strategies, including the inculcation
of practical wisdom in nursing students. Health care facilities need upgrading, and practising nurses and
educators must support nursing students effectively. Managerial and regulatory aspects need
improvement. The challenges identified in this study can be resolved by improved collaboration
amongst institutions of higher learning, nursing councils and service providers. Nursing ethics educators
remain hopeful that nursing ethics education has the potential to be significantly improved both in
South Africa and Namibia. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die geskiedenis en ontwikkeling van verpleegetiek dui op versorging as die kernwaarde van
verpleegkunde. Sedert die vroegste tye sien die gedragskodes wat deur samelewings ontwikkel word,
na kwesbare lede van die gemeenskap om. Die waardestelsel van verpleegkunde in Suid-Afrika en
Namibië kan teruggevoer word tot die Christen-sendelinge wat uit Engeland en Europa gekom het.
Florence Nightingale word as die stigter van moderne verpleegkunde beskou en het ’n stewige etiese
grondslag vir verpleegkunde gelê. Verpleegetiek onderrig het verskeie doelwitte, waaronder
bevordering van die etiese insigte van verpleegkundigies en beskerming van pasiënte. Etiek onderrrig
word daagliks gekonfronteer deur menige uitdagings met volgehoue pogings om hierdie uitdagings
deur innovering aan te spreek. Oor die geskiedenis heen het die verpleegberoep op morele uitdagings
gereageer deur etiekkodes met rigsnoere vir die verpleegpraktyk op te stel. Mettertyd het die etiek
van versorging veld gewen as ’n belangrike benadering tot verpleegpraktyk. Die waardes en
verpligtinge wat in die etiekkodes van sommige lande sowel as dié van die Internasionale Raad vir
Verpleegkundiges vervat is, toon bepaalde gemeenskaplike beginsels en oortuigings. Hierdie
etiekkodes beskryf verpleegkundiges se plig jeens pasiënte, die verpleegberoep, die samelewing, hul
medewerkers én hulself as individuele verpleërs. Verpleegkundiges behoort sekere vereiste
karaktereienskappe te ontwikkel. Veral Aristoteles se gedagtes oor intellektuele deugde en praktiese
insig kan verpleegetiekopvoeders van ’n lewensvatbare benadering tot onderrig en leer op hul
vakgebied voorsien. Tog bied hoëronderwysinstellings in Suid-Afrika en Namibië oënskynlik wisselende
mates van voorgraadse verpleegetiekonderrig. Hierdie gebrek aan standaardisering maak dit moeilik
om die werklike gehalte van verpleegetiekonderrig te bepaal. Die verpleegetiekopvoeders in Suid-
Afrika en Namibië wat vir hierdie studie geraadpleeg is, maak melding van uitdagings met betrekking
tot die onderrig- en leeromgewing, verpleegpraktisyns, studente en opvoeders, die
reguleringsowerhede sowel as politieke en regskwessies. Die opvoeders het ook voorstelle gemaak oor
hoe hierdie uitdagings hanteer kan word. Die doeltreffende internalisering van verpleegwaardes vereis
toewyding van verpleegopvoeders, -studente en -praktisyns sowel as belanghebbendes buite
hoëronderwysinstellings. ’n Kritiese beoordeling van verpleegetiekonderrig in Suid-Afrika en Namibië
dui op bepaalde tekorte wat regulerings- en bestuursaspekte van verpleegonderrig betref, en ook
verskeie uitdagings met betrekking tot verpleegonderrig oor die algemeen en verpleegetiekonderrig in
die besonder. Die verbetering van verpleegetiekonderrig vereis spesialisering deur
verpleegetiekopvoeders, die standaardisering van etiekonderrig, en innoverende onderrig- en
leerstrategieë, onder meer die inskerping van praktiese insig by verpleegstudente.
Gesondheidsorgfasiliteite moet opgeknap word en verpleegpraktisyns en -opvoeders moet
verpleegstudente doeltreffend ondersteun. Ook bestuurs- en reguleringsaspekte moet verbeter word.
Die uitdagings wat in hierdie studie na vore kom, kan die hoof gebied word deur beter samewerking
tussen hoëronderwysinstellings, verpleegrade en diensverskaffers. Intussen bly
verpleegetiekopvoeders vol hoop dat verpleegetiekonderrig in Suid-Afrika en Namibië verbeter kan
word.

Identiferoai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:sun/oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/96810
Date04 1900
CreatorsDe Villiers, Josephine Elizabeth
ContributorsMoodley, Keymanthri, Roux, C., Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. Dept. of Philosophy.
PublisherStellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
Source SetsSouth African National ETD Portal
Languageen_ZA
Detected LanguageUnknown
TypeThesis
Formatxiii, 304 pages : illustrations
RightsStellenbosch University

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