Optimising the work integrated learning of student nurses
- Authors: Gerber, Karin
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Nursing -- Study and teaching , Nursing students Education, Cooperative -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MCur
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/7721 , vital:23415
- Description: According to the Council on Higher Education (CHE, 2011:78) the term Work Integrated Learning (WIL) refers to an educational approach that aligns academic and workplace practices for the mutual benefit of students and workplaces. The CHE (2011:4) further describes WIL as an approach to career-focussed education that includes classroom-based and workplace-based forms of learning that are appropriate for the professional qualifications. WIL forms part of many training programmes for professions across the globe and is considered an important aspect of preparing the trainee or student to integrate theoretical learning into the clinical environment in which he or she will be building his or her career. WIL is considered crucial for the development of professional attributes and competencies needed to perform duties within the chosen profession once the trainee is qualified. Health care professions across the world employ WIL in clinical areas as an integral part of their curricula and nursing specifically is one of the health care professions that utilise a large component of WIL for clinical development of the student nurses. In South Africa, student nurses are currently placed in a variety of clinical settings in order to obtain the required and regulated clinical experience that work integrated learning should offer them. However, anecdotal evidence indicated that student nurses from the various Nursing Education Institutions in Nelson Mandela Bay experienced difficulty in finding adequate opportunities to develop their newly acquired skills when in the clinical areas and reported great difficulties in achieving their WIL outcomes. The aim of this study was to explore and describe the student nurses’ experiences of work integrated learning in various clinical areas in the Nelson Mandela Bay. This study followed a qualitative, exploratory, descriptive and contextual design with two phases. Thirty-five student nurses in their third and fourth-year were purposely sampled. In phase one data was collected using two steps, where the first step comprised using naïve sketches. During the second step interviews were done by means of focus groups using semi-structured questions and responsive interviewing. Data was transcribed verbatim and analysed thematically using Tesch’s method of analysis. In phase two recommendations for nurse educators to optimise WIL were formulated. The following three themes and related sub-themes emerged from the analysis: 1) Student nurses experienced a multitude of challenges in the clinical placement areas (CPA) and at the nursing education institution (NEI) that negatively impact on their morale and hinder WIL, namely lack of resources, unsupportive learning environments, a lack of belonging and workplace violence. 2) Positive experiences resulted in motivated and enthusiastic students, namely being inspired by role models, enhanced learning when support was offered and personal growth. 3) Students offered recommendations for enabling their WIL, namely adequate mentoring and clinical support, adequate financial support related to WIL and adjusting the nursing programmes to better incorporate the students’ needs. Relevant literature and recommendations offered by the student nurses were used to formulate recommendations with action steps for nurse educators to optimise work integrated learning of student nurses.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
- Authors: Gerber, Karin
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Nursing -- Study and teaching , Nursing students Education, Cooperative -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MCur
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/7721 , vital:23415
- Description: According to the Council on Higher Education (CHE, 2011:78) the term Work Integrated Learning (WIL) refers to an educational approach that aligns academic and workplace practices for the mutual benefit of students and workplaces. The CHE (2011:4) further describes WIL as an approach to career-focussed education that includes classroom-based and workplace-based forms of learning that are appropriate for the professional qualifications. WIL forms part of many training programmes for professions across the globe and is considered an important aspect of preparing the trainee or student to integrate theoretical learning into the clinical environment in which he or she will be building his or her career. WIL is considered crucial for the development of professional attributes and competencies needed to perform duties within the chosen profession once the trainee is qualified. Health care professions across the world employ WIL in clinical areas as an integral part of their curricula and nursing specifically is one of the health care professions that utilise a large component of WIL for clinical development of the student nurses. In South Africa, student nurses are currently placed in a variety of clinical settings in order to obtain the required and regulated clinical experience that work integrated learning should offer them. However, anecdotal evidence indicated that student nurses from the various Nursing Education Institutions in Nelson Mandela Bay experienced difficulty in finding adequate opportunities to develop their newly acquired skills when in the clinical areas and reported great difficulties in achieving their WIL outcomes. The aim of this study was to explore and describe the student nurses’ experiences of work integrated learning in various clinical areas in the Nelson Mandela Bay. This study followed a qualitative, exploratory, descriptive and contextual design with two phases. Thirty-five student nurses in their third and fourth-year were purposely sampled. In phase one data was collected using two steps, where the first step comprised using naïve sketches. During the second step interviews were done by means of focus groups using semi-structured questions and responsive interviewing. Data was transcribed verbatim and analysed thematically using Tesch’s method of analysis. In phase two recommendations for nurse educators to optimise WIL were formulated. The following three themes and related sub-themes emerged from the analysis: 1) Student nurses experienced a multitude of challenges in the clinical placement areas (CPA) and at the nursing education institution (NEI) that negatively impact on their morale and hinder WIL, namely lack of resources, unsupportive learning environments, a lack of belonging and workplace violence. 2) Positive experiences resulted in motivated and enthusiastic students, namely being inspired by role models, enhanced learning when support was offered and personal growth. 3) Students offered recommendations for enabling their WIL, namely adequate mentoring and clinical support, adequate financial support related to WIL and adjusting the nursing programmes to better incorporate the students’ needs. Relevant literature and recommendations offered by the student nurses were used to formulate recommendations with action steps for nurse educators to optimise work integrated learning of student nurses.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
Variables influencing customers' buying behaviour in the South African clothing retail industry
- Authors: Ndi, Rene Xavier Owona
- Date: 2014
- Subjects: Consumer behavior -- South Africa , Consumers' preferences -- South Africa , Retail trade -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MCom
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/3029 , vital:20388
- Description: It is important for business managers to understand customers’ buying behaviours, as customers are the cornerstone of the business’ marketing strategy and the main providers of businesses’ profits. Previous research have identified numerous factors that influence customers’ buying behaviour, factors such as prices, promotions, brand image, brand reputation, customer experience and socio-cultural aspects. Despite the attention given to variables influencing buying behaviour, there was still a gap to be filled in this field of study in the clothing retail industry, especially in the South African clothing retail industry. Thus, the primary objective of this study was to investigate how the understanding of customers’ brand perceptions, customer experience and social considerations can be used by clothing retailers to initiate a purchase. A literature overview was conducted on the global retail industry, the global clothing retail, as well as on the South African retail and, more specifically, the South African clothing retail. In addition, a literature overview on variables influencing buying behaviour was provided, with a special accent on the selected variables for this study, namely brand perceptions, customer experience and social considerations. From the literature overview conducted on variables, seven independent variables were selected to be investigated with the dependent variable, buying behaviour. The independent variables, namely brand perceptions (as measured by brand quality, brand reputation and brand image), customer experience (as measured by store physical environment and staff service), and lastly social considerations (as measured by reference groups and culture/subculture) and the dependent variable (buying behaviour) were then presented in a hypothesised model. An empirical investigation was undertaken to establish the influence of the independent variables on the dependent variable. The measuring instrument used for the investigation was a self-administered questionnaire using seven-point Likert type of scale. The items were constructed based on previous research instruments found in secondary literature sources. The non-probability convenience sampling was implemented in this study to identify respondents. 207 usable questionnaires were collected and were examined through statistical analyses. The validity and the reliability of the measuring instruments were confirmed by exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and the calculation of Cronbach’s alpha coefficients. Descriptive statistics were undertaken to summarise respondents’ demographic information, while Pearson’s Product Moment Correlations were calculated to determine the correlations among variables. Furthermore, the relationships between the variables were assessed through multiple regression analysis, while a t-test and ANOVA tests were conducted to determine the influence of demographic variables on independent variables that showed significant positive relationships with the dependent variable. In addition, post-hoc Scheffe tests were undertaken to elaborate on the significant differences resulting from the t-test and ANOVA tests. Significant positive relationships were found between Brand Image/Reputation and Buying Behaviour, between Store Physical Environment and Buying Behaviour and between Cultural Clothing and Buying Behaviour. The empirical results also showed that there was a significant relationship between Age and Cultural Clothing. In the same way, there was a significant relationship between Population Group and the variables Brand Image/Reputation and Cultural Clothing. This study has contributed to the body of literature on buying behaviour, especially in the field of clothing retail, by extending the factors to consider when aiming at improving buying behaviour. In addition, the development of the hypothesised model significantly contributed towards having a better understanding of customers’ perceptions of the selected variables, and ultimately how these variables could trigger their purchase decisions. As a result, this study enumerated some recommendations and suggestions that should enable retailers to create a positive image and reputation in customers’ minds, assist retailers in arranging the stores in a more attractive way for customers and reach more culture-conscious customers.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2014
- Authors: Ndi, Rene Xavier Owona
- Date: 2014
- Subjects: Consumer behavior -- South Africa , Consumers' preferences -- South Africa , Retail trade -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MCom
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/3029 , vital:20388
- Description: It is important for business managers to understand customers’ buying behaviours, as customers are the cornerstone of the business’ marketing strategy and the main providers of businesses’ profits. Previous research have identified numerous factors that influence customers’ buying behaviour, factors such as prices, promotions, brand image, brand reputation, customer experience and socio-cultural aspects. Despite the attention given to variables influencing buying behaviour, there was still a gap to be filled in this field of study in the clothing retail industry, especially in the South African clothing retail industry. Thus, the primary objective of this study was to investigate how the understanding of customers’ brand perceptions, customer experience and social considerations can be used by clothing retailers to initiate a purchase. A literature overview was conducted on the global retail industry, the global clothing retail, as well as on the South African retail and, more specifically, the South African clothing retail. In addition, a literature overview on variables influencing buying behaviour was provided, with a special accent on the selected variables for this study, namely brand perceptions, customer experience and social considerations. From the literature overview conducted on variables, seven independent variables were selected to be investigated with the dependent variable, buying behaviour. The independent variables, namely brand perceptions (as measured by brand quality, brand reputation and brand image), customer experience (as measured by store physical environment and staff service), and lastly social considerations (as measured by reference groups and culture/subculture) and the dependent variable (buying behaviour) were then presented in a hypothesised model. An empirical investigation was undertaken to establish the influence of the independent variables on the dependent variable. The measuring instrument used for the investigation was a self-administered questionnaire using seven-point Likert type of scale. The items were constructed based on previous research instruments found in secondary literature sources. The non-probability convenience sampling was implemented in this study to identify respondents. 207 usable questionnaires were collected and were examined through statistical analyses. The validity and the reliability of the measuring instruments were confirmed by exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and the calculation of Cronbach’s alpha coefficients. Descriptive statistics were undertaken to summarise respondents’ demographic information, while Pearson’s Product Moment Correlations were calculated to determine the correlations among variables. Furthermore, the relationships between the variables were assessed through multiple regression analysis, while a t-test and ANOVA tests were conducted to determine the influence of demographic variables on independent variables that showed significant positive relationships with the dependent variable. In addition, post-hoc Scheffe tests were undertaken to elaborate on the significant differences resulting from the t-test and ANOVA tests. Significant positive relationships were found between Brand Image/Reputation and Buying Behaviour, between Store Physical Environment and Buying Behaviour and between Cultural Clothing and Buying Behaviour. The empirical results also showed that there was a significant relationship between Age and Cultural Clothing. In the same way, there was a significant relationship between Population Group and the variables Brand Image/Reputation and Cultural Clothing. This study has contributed to the body of literature on buying behaviour, especially in the field of clothing retail, by extending the factors to consider when aiming at improving buying behaviour. In addition, the development of the hypothesised model significantly contributed towards having a better understanding of customers’ perceptions of the selected variables, and ultimately how these variables could trigger their purchase decisions. As a result, this study enumerated some recommendations and suggestions that should enable retailers to create a positive image and reputation in customers’ minds, assist retailers in arranging the stores in a more attractive way for customers and reach more culture-conscious customers.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2014
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