D.Cur. (Intensive General Nursing) / Critical care nursing is cost-effective quality nursing to the critical ill patient. This nursing is inftuenced by certain expectations as well as the professional-ethical authorisation. The aim ofthis study is to describe and explore the expectations and the professional-ethical authorisation of the functions of the critical care nurse to enable the formulation ofguidelines for the scope of practice for the critical care nurse within South African context. Phase I was to determine the expectations of the critical care nurse, the nursing service managers and the doctors with regard to the functions of the critical care nurse. A focus group interview was held with a group of experts in the field of critical care. The results were used to compile a questionnaire. This questionnaire was sent to the critical care nurses, the nursing service managers and the doctors in South Africa for completion. From these results the functions of the critical care nurse were determined. Phase 2 is to analyse the expectations (Phase 1) according to the professional-ethical authorisation of the critical care nurse. Firstly, literature was explored and described to determine the professional ethicalauthorisation regarding the accountability ofthe critical care nurse. Secondly, the functions were analysed according to the professional-ethical authorisation. The analysis showed that except for prescribing medication, altering medication dosages and drawing blood samples from the critical ill patient, the critical care nurse is practicing within her professional-ethical authorisation. Phase 3 was to formulate guidelines for the scope of practice for the critical care nurse within a South African context. Through usage of the data (Phase I and 2) the scope of practice was formulated. Guidelines were formulated for the practise, education and research regarding the limitations of the professional-ethical authorization and the implementation of the scope of practice for the critical care nurse.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:uj/uj:10592 |
| Date | 14 April 2014 |
| Creators | Nel, Wanda Elizabeth |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
| Rights | University of Johannesburg |
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