Care and handling of surgical instruments by professional nurses in the operating rooms in the Nelson Mandela Bay
- Authors: Bloemetje, Virginia Victoria
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Surgical nursing -- South Africa -- Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality , Operating room nursing -- South Africa -- Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality Surgical instruments and apparatus
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MCur
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/21779 , vital:29776
- Description: Hospital-acquired infections (HAIs), caused by viral, bacterial and fungal pathogens, can have a devastating effect on patients, families and health-care organisations. Furthermore, dealing with HAIs can be costly and add to an increase in hospital stays, medical costs, as well as the rates of morbidity and mortality. Operating rooms (OR) are dynamic units that pose a high risk for surgical infections in health-care organisations. In order to minimise surgical-site infections (SSI) and other related infections in ORs, it is important to care for and handle surgical instruments correctly and in accordance with what is considered to be best practice. This research study was conducted to explore and describe the knowledge of professional nurses related to the care and handling of surgical instruments in the ORs in the medical facilities both in the private and public sectors in Nelson Mandela Bay (NMB). The research design was quantitative, explorative, descriptive and contextual in nature. The research sample comprised of professional nurses in the ORs in the public and private hospitals, who made themselves available and who were willing to participate in the study. The data was collected by means of a structured self-administered questionnaire that was based on a narrative literature review. Descriptive statistics were used to analyse the responses from the professional nurses in the OR, collected using the questionnaire. Ethical considerations have been applied throughout the research study and all the relevant findings have been disseminated accordingly. Recommendations, based on best-practice guidelines, were developed to optimise the care and handling of surgical instruments by professional nurses in the ORs. Professional nurses in the ORs who are involved in cleaning surgical instruments should know how to manage certain cleaning procedures. Disinfection and the sterilisation of surgical instruments can only be achieved by following efficient cleaning procedures. When performed properly, cleaning can effectively reduce the growth of microorganisms on surgical instruments, in order to prepare the instruments for disinfection and sterilisation. The importance of this step cannot be overemphasised since organic material, soil and debris can block the disinfectant or sterilising agent from making complete contact with the surface of the instruments. Additionally, cleaning allows for the safe handling of the instruments by professional nurses.
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- Date Issued: 2018
Strategies for advancing women into executive management positions
- Authors: Dlamini, Patricia Dollane
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Women executives -- South Africa Success in business -- South Africa , Sex role in the work environment -- South Africa Management -- Social aspects -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/15005 , vital:28112
- Description: Problem: In South Africa, women have not always had opportunities in society or the workplace due to historical discriminatory political and socio-economic policies and practices, including apartheid (United Nations Economic Commission for Africa, 2011). Gender disparity at the top echelons of organisations is still prevalent, and the South African business landscape is not different despite progressive legislation promulgated in the late 90s when the democratic government took over. Aim of the study: The aim was to identify challenges faced by women when attempting to advance into executive positions and strategies that could assist them in this respect. Method: A literature study was conducted to establish what work had already been done in the field of gender studies and advancement of women in the corporate world. For the empirical study an interpretivist paradigm with a qualitative research approach was adopted. Interviews were conducted with ten women who were members of the Port Elizabeth branch of the Businesswomen's Association of South Africa (BWASA) and who were categorised as hopeful, emerging or already in executive positions. They were asked about the challenges they were facing or had experienced and the strategies that assisted or could assist them in advancing to an executive position. They were also asked to provide critical incidents with the view of enriching the data and gaining a deeper understanding of the phenomenon. Results: Gender-insensitive organisational policies, an unsupportive organisational culture and unknown barriers in selection emerged as key challenges experienced by the participants. Facilitative strategies that emerged included a supportive corporate culture, family support, an enabling supervisor and affiliation to professional bodies. Conclusion: Whilst a large pool of work has been done on the advancement of women, gender equality in corporate South Africa remained a challenge. This challenge should be addressed from a corporate, personal and professional perspective. Recommendations: An integrated organisational approach to this phenomenon is required which should include appropriate company policies, a supportive organisational culture and enabling supervisors. In addition, women should garner the support that their families provide and they could greatly benefit from affiliating to professional bodies.
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- Date Issued: 2017
The sustainability of rural sanitation facilities in municipalities
- Authors: Maxwele, Zukani
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Sanitation, Rural -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Sanitary engineering -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Sewage disposal, Rural -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Rural development projects -- South Africa -- Citizen participation , Municipal services -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:9713 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1020580
- Description: Progress has been made in eradicating the backlog in sanitation. This is reflected by the 2011 Census results that reflect a 21 percent increase in the provision of sanitation between the 2001 Census and the 2011 Census. In the rural areas of O.R. Tambo District Municipality, the eradication of sanitation backlogs is done through the provision of VIPs for sanitation. Even with this progress, there are still challenges resulting from the previously constructed sanitation facilities. Some of the challenges relate to the poor quality of these facilities. Community members – via the IDP road shows have voiced their unhappiness with regard to some of the sustainability factors of these structures. Community members feel they were not involved in decisions related to the sanitation projects. It has also been observed that the municipality and its agents do not conduct environmental management studies; and some pits of these structures were not lined, and the health and hygiene training, together with post-construction assessment was not done. In this study, an assessment of the provision of sanitation facilities, in order to identify some of the key factors that are critical to the sustainability of rural sanitation facilities, was done. The research findings should be helpful in assisting local government to improve the provision of sanitation facilities, with the aim of ensuring sustainability, improving community satisfaction, and improving the quality of life for the people living in these villages. For the purpose of the study, a quantitative research approach was used. A research questionnaire was used to collect the data; and it was distributed through email to a sample of respondents that understood sanitation issues. The data were collected from municipal officials, consultants working on sanitation projects, as well as other stakeholders with influence and an interest in sanitation. The results were analysed to establish the findings and to propose recommendations, in order to improve the sustainability of rural sanitation facilities. From the research findings, the recommendations highlighted the need for an improved participatory approach in implementing sanitation projects. To ensure sustainability, the following issues are key: monitoring and supervision; community participation and adherence to design guidelines; a review of the sanitation provision policy; as well as the promotion of health and hygiene.
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- Date Issued: 2013
The entrepreneurial orientation of selected ICT SMME's
- Authors: Whittaker, Donna
- Date: 2011
- Subjects: Business enterprises , Information technology
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: vital:8754 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1011417 , Business enterprises , Information technology
- Description: Despite the demand for ICT skills, businesses are experiencing an ICT skills shortage. Constantly changing ICT technologies require business leaders to find qualified ICT professionals to implement new business strategies and business processes. The Information and Communications Technology (ICT) sector is experiencing a continued skills shortage and various initiatives have been launched to address the problem. Businesses continually struggle to find qualified and suitably skilled ICT personnel. As a result businesses have had to outsource their ICT requirements off-shore to obtain the required ICT skills and maintain their competitive advantage. In a country desperate for job creation, entrepreneurial inclination and start up of new businesses may play a pivotal role in the economic development and well being of individuals able to capitalise on the availability of ICT opportunities. Entrepreneurship is a critical factor in promoting innovation, creating employment opportunities and generating social and economic wealth in a country's economy. Sectors such as Information and Communication Technologies can be seen as archetypal entrepreneurial industries and can consequently play a key role in economic development. In the research that follows the author identifies an ICT skills shortage in South Africa. This is followed by an exploratory study that investigates the influence of psychological traits and socio-cultural variables on the entrepreneurial intent of selected ICT SMME’s in the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan Area. The findings revealed that both psychological traits together with socio-cultural variables influence an individual’s intention to start up a business. The predominant psychological trait discovered during the research was perseverance. Family environmental issues were the dominant socio-cultural variable influencing entrepreneurial intention amongst the case study subjects.
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- Date Issued: 2011
A critical review of the IFIP TC11 Security Conference Series
- Authors: Gaadingwe, Tshepo Gaadingwe
- Date: 2007
- Subjects: Database security , Data protection , Computers -- Access control
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MTech
- Identifier: vital:9795 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/507 , Database security , Data protection , Computers -- Access control
- Description: Over the past few decades the field of computing has grown and evolved. In this time, information security research has experienced the same type of growth. The increase in importance and interest in information security research is reflected by the sheer number of research efforts being produced by different type of organizations around the world. One such organization is the International Federation for Information Processing (IFIP), more specifically the IFIP Technical Committee 11 (IFIP TC11). The IFIP TC11 community has had a rich history in producing high quality information security specific articles for over 20 years now. Therefore, IFIP TC11 found it necessary to reflect on this history, mainly to try and discover where it came from and where it may be going. Its 20th anniversary of its main conference presented an opportunity to begin such a study of its history. The core belief driving the study being that the future can only be realized and appreciated if the past is well understood. The main area of interest was to find out topics which may have had prevalence in the past or could be considered as "hot" topics. To achieve this, the author developed a systematic process for the study. The underpinning element being the creation of a classification scheme which was used to aid the analysis of the IFIP TC11 20 year's worth of articles. Major themes were identified and trends in the series highlighted. Further discussion and reflection on these trends were given. It was found that, not surprisingly, the series covered a wide variety of topics in the 20 years. However, it was discovered that there has been a notable move towards technically focused papers. Furthermore, topics such as business continuity had just about disappeared in the series while topics which are related to networking and cryptography continue to gain more prevalence.
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- Date Issued: 2007
Critical analysis of a performance management system used by a tertiary education institution in the Eastern Cape
- Authors: Mkovane, Zenephone Bhekuyise
- Date: 2005
- Subjects: Performance -- Management -- Evaluation , Performance -- Measurement -- Evaluation , Universities and colleges -- Employees -- Rating of -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Border Technikon -- Employees -- Rating of
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: vital:8567 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/412 , Performance -- Management -- Evaluation , Performance -- Measurement -- Evaluation , Universities and colleges -- Employees -- Rating of -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Border Technikon -- Employees -- Rating of
- Description: As argued by authors like Franzen on whose work the greater part of the introduction, the main problem and sub-problem has been based, the objective of this study was to establish the extent to which the performance evaluation system currently in use at the subject Institution conforms to the benchmark performance management systems as espoused in literature. Further, the objective was to establish the differences and commonalities between the performance management systems practiced in the corporate sector and current practice at the subject Institution. Best practice was thus lifted to form part of the recommendation of this study. A questionaire was designed based on the guidelines in the literature study in order to determine how the subject Institution conducts its performance appraisal and how this relates to the four general purposes of performance management mentioned in the study. The respondents' opinion obtained from the questionaire were compared with the guidelines in literature and clustered around the four identifiable general purposes of performance management. The study concludes with a statement of current practice at the subject Institution, and outlines the extent of conformance to benchmark practice on performance management systems. Recommendations are made based on best practice and direction is given to future research into contemporary practices with the express aim of enhancing quality in higher education applying the quality-related procedures of industry and commerce, where quality is crucial to success (Winch, 1996: 9-13). The current performance management system at the subject Institution proves to be largely conforming to the benchmark. However it should require comments made by the respondents that pertain to improvement.
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- Date Issued: 2005