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
Optimizing aspects that facilitate skill acquisition in private dialysis units
- Authors: Fourie, Claire
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Nephrology , Kidneys -- Diseases -- Nursing
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MCur
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/6106 , vital:21040
- Description: Nephrology nursing requires a specific set of clinical skills and knowledge. When a professional nurse with no previous dialysis experience enters the field of nephrology nursing he or she has no nephrology related paradigms from past experiences to use as a point of reference. As a result of the rapid growth of the private dialysis company experienced over the past 10 years, many management and support service positions became available. Internal promotions resulted in the movement of experienced professional nurses from the clinical field into management and support services positions, resulting in a sudden loss of skilled individuals from the clinical field. To mitigate this effect, a training intervention was started. The newly appointed managers were all required to work in the clinical field for sixteen hours per month to expose the less experienced professional nurses to the more experienced professional nurses in order to assist them with skill acquisition thus enabling the advanced beginner and competent nurse to become a proficient nurse and/or an expert in the field of nephrology nursing. Experiential learning is not a spontaneous process but depends on many factors that could either hinder or facilitate skill acquisition. This study aimed to explore and describe the aspects that facilitate or hinder skill acquisition during the training intervention that was implemented in private chronic haemodialysis units and to write guidelines to optimize skill acquisition during the training intervention. The study followed a quantitative, descriptive, exploratory, contextual, survey design. Data was collected using a tool based on the theory of nursing accompaniment by Kotze, Kolbs theory on experiential nursing, a framework of strategies that facilitate skill acquisition by King and a generalized tool, the Learning Transfer Skills Inventory (LTSI) that was developed by Holton and Bates to measure learning transfer and factors that contribute and hinder training interventions. Data was analysed with the support of a statistician. The findings were reported and discussed in relation to the current literature. Measures were put in place to ensure validity and reliability, and ethical principles were adhered to throughout the study. Guidelines to optimize skill acquisition were developed. The limitations of the study were the sample size and the response rate. There was a paucity in existing research regarding skill acquisition in Nephrology nursing and limited statistical variance amongst the aspects that facilitate or hinder skill acquisition. It is recommended that the guidelines be implemented to measure the impact they have in the organization.
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- Date Issued: 2016
The relationship between organisational contextual factors and clinical practice guideline implementation in private critical care units
- Authors: Flippies, Emirenthia Emogin Elouise , Venter, D J L
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Medicine -- Practice -- Standards -- South Africa Medical care -- Standards , Intensive care units
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MCur
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/12583 , vital:27096
- Description: Clinical practice guidelines are one way of ensuring that healthcare is based on the evidence-based practices. In a dynamic unit, like the critical care unit, where sound decision-making and critical thinking are required in the care of critically ill patients, the implementation of such guidelines for care is of utmost importance. Guideline implementation is however not so simplistic, and various studies have proven that there are various barriers linked to guideline implementation. However, most the barriers have proven to be related to individual factors. Therefore, a greater focus has been placed on organisational contextual factors that might have an influence on clinical practice guideline implementation. The research study followed a positivistic, quantitative paradigm, where the hypothesised relationship between the organisational contextual factors and clinical practice guideline implementation were investigated. A structured pre-existing questionnaire, namely the Alberta Context Tool, was used to collect data from 65 registered nurses in private critical care units. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyse the data. The findings revealed that although the organisational contextual factors were prevalent in the private critical care units sampled, some factors like leadership and culture scored higher than the other factors. Positive relations were reported between the organisational contextual factors and clinical practice guideline implementation. The results imply that the alternative hypothesis H1 is supported, and thus proved that there are significant relationships between organisational contextual factors and clinical practice guideline implementation in private critical care units in the East London area.Recommendations were made on how to enhance organisational contextual factors in the implementation of clinical practice guidelines. Ethical principles were maintained throughout the study.
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- Date Issued: 2016
The role of assessments in enhancing midwifery programme outcomes at a public nursing education institution in the Eastern Cape Province
- Authors: Njikija, Vuyelwa Francina
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Maternity nursing -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Midwifery -- Study and teaching Community health nursing
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MCur
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/11597 , vital:26941
- Description: The substandard care noted and reported on in midwifery practice at level one midwifery care institutions in South Africa raises a concern about the effectiveness of the assessment strategies used at nursing institutions in enhancing midwifery programme outcomes. The concern is mainly directed particularly at the performance of the newly qualified professional nurses as they are the ones that practise at level one institutions, had just gone through training and been found to be competent practitioners. The success of any training programme and specifically midwifery practice as in the content of this study is dependent on the effectiveness of the assessment techniques or strategies used; hence assessment is considered integral to monitoring the quality of the midwifery care programme. The current study used a quantitative research design to explore and describe the role of assessments in enhancing midwifery programme outcomes at a public nursing education institution in the Eastern Cape Province. Recommendations to enhance the role of assessments for the benefit of midwifery programme outcomes at a public nursing education institution that were made were guided by the findings of the study. Participants were non-randomly selected and were personally provided with a self-developed questionnaire to complete. 134 participants returned fully completed questionnaires while approximately 25% of the selected sample did not return theirs. Data was captured on an excel spread sheet and analysed using Cronbach’s alpha programme under the guidance of the statistician and supervisor. Findings of the study were that: • the participants perceived the role of assessments as positively enhancing the midwifery programme outcomes, • though they also agreed and strongly agreed that there were major factors that prevented enhancement of midwifery programme outcomes. Ethical considerations were autonomy, beneficence, justice and non-maleficence. The validity and reliability of the data- collection instrument was ensured. Furthermore, recommendations were made for nursing education, clinical practice and future research. The study was conducted during the period of July 2014 to January 2016.
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- Date Issued: 2016
Views of grade nine learners regarding the marketing of nursing as a career to attract school-leavers to the profession in the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality
- Authors: Stevens, Annette Kay , Williams, Maggie
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Nursing -- Vocational guidance -- South Africa -- Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality Nursing -- Practice -- South Africa -- Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality Career development -- Nursing -- South Africa -- Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MCur
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/12834 , vital:27125
- Description: Globally, the nursing profession is faced with a decline in school-leavers’ interest in nursing as a career. The decline in school leavers entering the nursing profession poses a threat to the future of nursing because, globally, the average age of nurses in many countries exceeds 40 years (International Council of Nurses, 2008). The role of marketing in attracting school leavers to careers of choice is well documented; however, there is a lack of documented marketing attempts by Nursing Education Institutions to market nursing as a career at secondary schools in the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality. The purpose of the study was to determine the views that grade nine learners have regarding the marketing of nursing as a career to attract school-leavers to the profession. The researcher also explored and described how grade nine learners are being informed or wish to be informed of nursing as a career. Based on the findings of the study, broad guidelines were developed for nurse educators at Nursing Education Institutions so as to facilitate the marketing of nursing as a career for school leavers. To achieve the purpose of this study, a quantitative, explorative, descriptive and contextual study design was used. The study was conducted at selected senior secondary schools in the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality. The research population in this study comprised of all grade nine learners at secondary schools in the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality. A simple random sampling method was used to select participants. A structured self-administered questionnaire was used as the data collection tool. The data collected were analysed with the help of the statistician, using descriptive and inferential statistics. The study findings revealed that grade nine learners in the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality had a positive response to choosing nursing as a career and that schools situated in the lower socio-economic areas had the highest percentage of grade nine learners indicating an interest in nursing as a career. The study concludes with recommendations for nursing practice, education and research. Ethical principles have been maintained throughout the study.
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- Date Issued: 2016
Workplace violence among professional nurses in a private healthcare facility
- Authors: Schlebusch-Marie, Linda
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Violence in the workplace -- Nursing -- South Africa Nurses -- Violence against -- South Africa , Health facilities -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MCur
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/12801 , vital:27122
- Description: Workplace violence is an international problem and has negative consequences for individuals, organizations and communities. For individuals, the effect includes symptoms of fear, stress, irritability, feelings of isolation, insecurity, and low selfesteem. Healthcare organizations incur increased cost due to litigation due to poor quality of care, high staff turnovers and absenteeism, and their brands are negatively affected. Community members, who are the recipients of care, are placed in danger and are indirectly the victims of such workplace violence, which in turn affects their trust in private healthcare organizations or professions to provide the quality health care that they expect and deserve. Workplace violence takes many forms such as incivility, horizontal violence and bullying to name but a few. The perpetrators of such violence are doctors, nurses, patients and relatives. Workplace violence takes place in South Africa however, paucity in research was found by the researcher. The aim of the study was to explore and describe the experiences of professional nurses regarding workplace violence in a private healthcare facility in order to develop guidelines to address workplace violence in such a facility. A qualitative, explorative, contextual and descriptive study was conducted, using the Critical Social Theory as the paradigm. Data were gathered from professional nurses that have experienced workplace violence utilizing narratives. Fourteen narrative interviews were done until data was saturated. The data was transcribed verbatim and Tesch’s method of thematic synthesis was used to analyse the data. The three themes that emerged from the data were: Professional nurses acknowledge the existence of workplace violence where they work, Participants described the effect of workplace violence on themselves, others and the work environment, and Participants discussed their views regarding management of violence in the workplace. A thick description of the data with a literature control was provided. Thereafter inferences were made regarding the main themes of the guidelines and these focussed on: Preventing and addressing workplace violence by Nursing Service Managers; Preventing and addressing workplace violence by Nurse Unit Managers and Empowering professional nurses to address workplace violence. To ensure rigour and trustworthiness of the study, the researcher used Lincoln and Guba’s criteria namely: credibility, dependability, conformability and transferability. To protect the right and dignity of the participants and to safeguard the integrity of the study the researcher complied with the following ethical principles: beneficence, non- maleficence, autonomy, justice, veracity, privacy, and confidentiality. The limitations of this study were that data was collected from only one category of nurses and only one private healthcare facility was used. Recommendations from this study include implementation of the guidelines to establish their effectiveness. The findings of this study can be used to empower professional nurses to deal with workplace violence and to prevent the short and long term effects of workplace violence on the individual, the organization and the community. Nursing education institutions can also incorporate workplace violence into their curriculum to increase the awareness of students regarding this phenomenon.
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- Date Issued: 2016
Experiences of mothers relating to live premature birth and the premature infant at a private hospital in the Eastern Cape
- Authors: Martin, Samantha Rochelle , Rall, Nadine
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Premature infants -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Premature labor -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MCur
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/11482 , vital:26931
- Description: Premature births, which are among the leading causes of neonatal mortality and morbidity in South Africa, often result not only in adverse effects on the infant due to the poorly developed organs and systems, but also affect the mother. Much literature exists about the causes of premature birth, clinical manifestations and management of premature infants; but healthcare practitioners, researchers and authors have not reported much on the mothers’ thoughts and feelings while going through the experience of premature labour and birth. This study deals with the experiences of mothers relating to live premature birth and the premature infant at a private hospital in the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan Municipality, an urban area within the Eastern Cape Province. The objectives of the study were to explore and describe the experiences of mothers relating to live premature birth and the premature infant at a private hospital in the Eastern Cape Province and to make recommendations based on the research findings which could be utilised by midwives when caring for mothers who had experienced a premature birth. This study, which is qualitative in nature, utilised an explorative, descriptive and contextual design. The population of the study was mothers between the ages of 18 and 38 years who had had a premature birth and were of a gestational age ranging from 28 to 34 weeks. Data collection took place at a private hospital in the Eastern Cape Province over a period of five months. A private room that was designated for the data collection and was not far from the unit where the neonate was kept, proved to be suitable for data-collection purposes. Semi-structured one-on-one interviews were conducted and recorded with an audio digital taperecorder, with a purposefully selected sample of 12 mothers including the pilot study. Data analysis followed formally after data saturation and the data collected was transcribed verbatim and analysed as recommended by Tesch, namely, data coding. An independent coder was used to verify and finalise the results. Two main themes with three sub-themes each and several categories emerged from the data analysis. The two main themes were that: 1. participants had experienced premature birth as an unexpected and traumatic occurrence; and 2. participants had experienced positive support as a coping mechanism throughout the premature birth. Direct quotations were used from the raw data collected to support the description of experiences and findings of this study. Trustworthiness of the study was maintained by using the criteria of credibility, transferability, dependability and confirmability. Ethical principles such as autonomy, beneficence, non-maleficence and justice were used to ensure that the research was conducted in an ethical manner. A summary of the study including limitations, recommendations and conclusions was provided.
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- Date Issued: 2015
Experiences of professional nurses regarding clinical placement exposure during their compulsory community service at state hospitals in Nelson Mandela Bay
- Authors: Mshweshwe, Nonkululeko Mica
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Nurses -- In-service training -- South Africa -- Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality , Community health services -- South Africa -- Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality , Nursing -- Practice -- South Africa -- Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MCur
- Identifier: vital:10069 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1021074
- Description: The nursing student who has undergone the four year diploma or degree training as a nurse also has to undergo compulsory community service as a requirement before she/he can be registered as a qualified professional nurse. While it has been compulsory for other health professionals such as doctors, dieticians or dentists to place students in compulsory community service, it has only been compulsory for nursing students since 2008. This means that the practice is relatively new in nursing and it is not clear how the newly qualified professional nurse experiences compulsory community service (CCS). The overall goal of this study is to determine the experiences of professional nurses placed at the state hospitals in Nelson Mandela Bay regarding compulsory community service clinical placement exposure and to use these descriptions to develop guidelines. The study followed a qualitative, exploratory, descriptive, contextual design. Literature was reviewed in order to identify research that was done previously regarding compulsory community service amongst health care professionals. The research population included professional nurses who underwent compulsory community service in the three state hospitals in the Nelson Mandela Bay. Purposive sampling was utilised to identify the participants. Semi-structured interviews were conducted to collect information and field notes were kept. The interviews were transcribed and Tech’s (1990) in Creswell, 2009:186) eight steps of data analysis were followed to create meaning from the data collected. An independent coder assisted with the coding process to ensure the trustworthiness of the findings. The researcher ensured the validity of the study by conforming to Lincoln and Guba’s model of trustworthiness which consists of the following four constructs, namely credibility, transferability, dependability and conformability (Lincoln & Guba, 1999, as cited in Schurink, Fouche & de Vos, 2011:419- 421). Three themes and sub themes were identified. Literature control was done to compare the findings with existing research results. The researcher ensured that the study was conducted in an ethical manner by adhering to ethical principles such as beneficence, justice and fidelity. All the participants in the study felt that the clinical placement exposure was a worthwhile experience. The participants expressed a feeling of gratitude that they were afforded this opportunity of practicing under the guidance of experienced professional nurses. To them it was an opportunity to master whatever they were taught as student nurses so that by the time they practice as independent practitioners they would be confident and knowledgeable. The CCS nurses indicated that orientation and mentorship were not always of good quality and professional nurses were not always available as in some units professional nurses were not readily accessible. The CCS nurses were left alone and isolated with no one to consult. If proper orientation and mentorship had been in place the CCS nurses would have enjoyed the community service year more and they felt that they would have benefited more. Had there been a mentoring system in place it could have gone a long way to ascertain that the participants gained confidence and were able to perform tasks independently and confidently. The participants overwhelmingly indicated that unit management should have been included in their CCS year placement. During the CCS year the CCS nurses were not exposed to unit management. This was seen by CCS nurses as a missed opportunity. Had they been afforded the opportunity to practice unit management under the supervision of unit nursing managers, professional growth and development in unit management could have been facilitated. That they were not afforded that opportunity deprived them of a valuable skill as well as personal and professional growth. In conclusion guidelines for placement of CCS nurses in the Nelson Mandela State hospitals have been formulated for implementation. Recommendations were made to enhance nursing practice, nursing education and nursing research.
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- Date Issued: 2015
Guidelines for psychiatric nurses to assist in the care of female patients with bipolar disorder during their admission and stay in a tertiary level psychiatric facility in the Eastern Cape, South Africa
- Authors: Du Plessis, Anneki
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Psychiatric nurses -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Manic-depressive persons -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Psychiatric hospitals -- Admission and discharge -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MCur
- Identifier: vital:10072 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1021160
- Description: Bipolar disorder is the sixth leading cause of disability in the world among people aged 15-44. Bipolar disorder is a chronic psychiatric disorder with a significant impact on patients’ social, occupational, and general functioning well-being. Patients who are diagnosed with bipolar type 1 disorder are usually admitted to a psychiatric hospital as an involuntary patient which means that they will be cared for in a closed unit. In a critical analysis of the literature it was noted that not much is known of the experiences of patients in psychiatric wards. The researcher used a qualitative approach, with a phenomenological research strategy. An explorative, descriptive and contextual design was utilized to gain more insight into female patients’ lived experiences during their admission and stay in a tertiary level psychiatric institution. The research population was female patients who were diagnosed with bipolar disorder and who had recently experienced being admitted to and treated at a tertiary level psychiatric facility where they were treated for this condition. Purposive sampling was utilised to obtain the sample for the study. A pilot study was conducted before the study commenced to ensure the trustworthiness of the findings. The researcher obtained the data via semi-structured interviews as well as field notes and reflective journals. Data was analysed by using Tesch’s method as adopted by Creswell. Once the data had been analysed, a literature control was done in accordance with the findings. Guba’s model of trustworthiness was utilized to ensure that this study was trustworthy and credible. The researcher implemented ethical principles to ensure that no harm was done to the participants during the research study. Finally, guidelines were developed to assist professional nurses to manage patients optimally during their admission and stay in a closed unit of a tertiary psychiatric facility.
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- Date Issued: 2015
Guidelines for the responsible use of social media by nursing students
- Authors: Nyangeni, Thandolwakhe
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Nursing students , Social media
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MCur
- Identifier: vital:10065 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1020658
- Description: Social media use is becoming a popular activity among students at Nursing Education Institutions in South Africa, with Facebook, WhatsApp, YouTube, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, Blackberry Messaging, Mxit and Google Plus being some of the social networking sites adopted for various reasons by nursing students. However, lack of accountability and unethical use of social media by nursing students in South Africa has been reported. Owing to the lack of accountability and unethical misconduct associated with the use of social media, guidelines for responsible usage are needed. A qualitative, descriptive, explorative and contextual research study was conducted to explore and describe the perceptions of nursing students regarding the responsible use of social media. Nursing students registered for the undergraduate nursing degree at a Nursing Education Institution in the Eastern Cape, South Africa were interviewed using a semi-structured individual interview method in order to elicit rich descriptions of their perceptions regarding the use of social media. The goal of the study was to develop guidelines for the responsible use of social media by nursing students. In phase one, the researcher explores and describes the perceptions of nursing students regarding the use of social media. In phase two, guidelines for the responsible use of social media by nursing students were developed, using the findings of the study. Tesch’s method of thematic synthesis was utilised to analyse the data. To ensure rigour and trustworthiness in the study, the researcher used Guba and Lincoln’s criteria, namely: credibility, dependability, confirmability, and transferability. To protect the rights and dignity of the participants and to safeguard the integrity of this study, the researcher complied with the following ethical principles: beneficence and non-maleficence, autonomy, justice, privacy, and confidentiality. Twelve in-depth, semi-structured interviews provided saturated data, which was then transcribed and coded to yield the major and sub-themes that were identified in this study. The information shared by the participants provided the basis for the development of guidelines for the responsible use of social media by nursing students, which are intended to provide guidance for legally and ethically acceptable social networking. Three themes that emerged from the data were: Nursing student’s lives are centred around social media, Nursing students experience blurred personal and professional boundaries and lack of accountability, and Students expressed a need for the guidelines for the responsible use of social media. Six principle guidelines focusing on accountable and ethically acceptable use of social media were developed. The study concludes with the recommendations regarding nursing practice, nursing education and nursing research. The limitations of the study were that data was collected from students in the undergraduate nursing degree programme and therefore the experiences of the nursing students in the postgraduate degree and diploma programmes regarding the use of social media are not known. The researcher depended solely on the story as told by the participants and did not get the opportunity to observe their social networking conduct, so the researcher made inferences based on the information that was supplied by students. The paucity of research in this topic made it a challenge for the researcher to find context-specific research articles for South Africa. Recommendations from this study could be used to influence further research aimed at establishing the effectiveness of the guidelines. The findings of this research study could also be used to influence policy making at national and provincial levels of government regarding the use of social media at healthcare facilities.
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- Date Issued: 2015
Lived experiences of professional nurses caring for mechanically ventilated patients
- Authors: Else, Liana
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Respiratory intensive care , Respiratory therapy , Respirators (Medical equipment) , Artificial respiration
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MCur
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/8295 , vital:26320
- Description: Critical care nursing is a speciality that continues to evolve and transform. Critical care nurses of the 21st century routinely care for the complex, critically ill patient, integrating sophisticated technology with the accompanying psychosocial challenges and the ethical conflicts associated with critical illness – while, at the same time, addressing the needs and concerns of the family. Providing nursing care in such a dynamic and fast-track unit can pose various challenges for the critical care nurse. Professional nurses are the backbone of any health-care system. The quality of nursing directly affects the patients’ outcomes, and nursing care must therefore be rendered meticulously. Mechanical ventilator support is routinely needed for critically ill adults in these care units and is also a common therapy in sub-acute and long-term care settings. The care of the mechanically ventilated patient is the core of a professional nurse`s practice in the critical care unit. The mechanically ventilated patient presents many challenges for the professional nurse, while the critical care unit poses as a stressful environment for the professional nurse as well as the patient. The objectives of this study therefore were to explore and describe the lived experiences of professional nurses while caring for mechanically ventilated patients, and to develop recommendations to support professional nurses while caring for mechanically ventilated patients. A qualitative, explorative, descriptive and contextual research design was utilised. Data was collected by means of semi-structured interviews and analysed according to the framework provided by Tesch. Purposive sampling was used to select a sample of professional nurses working in a critical care environment. Guba’s model was utilised to verify data and to ensure trustworthiness of the study. Ethical principles were adhered to throughout this research study. With the analysed data, recommendations were to support professional nurses while caring for mechanically ventilated.
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- Date Issued: 2015
Midwives' experiences of high stress levels due to emergency childbirths in Namibia Regional Hospital
- Authors: Ndikwetepo, Monika Ndaudika
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Midwifery -- Namibia , Medical personnel -- Job stress -- Namibia , Childbirth -- Namibia
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MCur
- Identifier: vital:10073 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1021162
- Description: Many midwives throughout the world experienced high stress levels when they deal with emergency childbirths. Midwifery professionals experience certain unique stressors, such as midwives being responsible for the care of women when they are giving birth. Complications of childbirth may occur during labour leading to the life of the baby and the mother being threatened. Situations such as this leave midwives experiencing high levels of stress for which they often do not have effective coping mechanisms. When the stress is not managed, it may lead to burnout. When burnout occurs the midwives present with physical and psychological symptoms of stress, grief for the loss and lack of motivation, which results in staff turnover and a fear of working in a maternity ward. Consequently, patient care may be compromised as some midwives became apathetic and develop unacceptable attitudes toward their patients. Such behavior led to poor work performances, maternity services that are not woman-friendly and women seeing the maternity ward as a place where they are treated in rude and unfriendly manner which increased the chances of adverse childbirth outcomes. The aim of the study was to explore and describe the experiences of midwives who have to cope with stress associated with emergency childbirths. This information was used to develop the guidelines to help midwives to cope with the high stress associated with emergency childbirths. The researcher used a phenomenological, qualitative approach. The study was explorative, as little was known on this topic in the Namibian context and it was also descriptive and contextual. Purposive and convenient sampling was used to select the research sample. The research population was all the midwives working in the maternity ward of a Namibian regional hospital, who met the inclusion criteria. Data gathering was done using semi-structured interviews. Once data saturation occurred, interviewing stopped. The interviews were audio-taped and transcribed verbatim. Tesch’s eight steps of data analysis were followed to create meaning from the data collected. An independent coder assisted with the coding process to ensure the trustworthiness of the findings. Literature control was done after data collection to support and strengthen the study’s findings. Trustworthiness, as suggested by using Lincoln & Guba’s model of trustworthiness, included truth-value/credibility, applicability/transferability, consistency/dependability and neutrality/conformability was implemented. Ethical principles of beneficence, non-maleficence, autonomy and justice were ensured by obtaining permission to conduct the research from relevant authorities and from University structures, obtaining consent from the participants before the interviews, voluntary participation and right to withdraw from the study, privacy, confidentiality and dissemination of the results. Three main themes and sub-themes were identified namely: Midwives experienced significant stressors associated with emergency childbirth situations. Midwives experienced mixed emotions about dealing with emergency childbirth situations Midwives shared their views regarding their support needs associated with emergency childbirth situations. Recommendations for nursing education, clinical midwifery and for further research were made. Four guidelines were developed based on the study findings as well as literature related to these findings, to help the midwives to cope with high stress levels associated with emergency childbirths.
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- Date Issued: 2015
Midwives' experiences regarding the utilization of partographs in a Namibian Regional Hospital
- Authors: Fernandes, Diina
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Midwifery -- Namibia , Labor (Obstetrics) -- Namibia
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MCur
- Identifier: vital:10071 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1021158
- Description: Labour has been characterized as the most dangerous journey a woman undertakes. The reason being, that although it is a natural process, many labouring women suffer complications during labour and childbirth including prolonged or obstructed labour. These complications can result in maternal and infant morbidity and mortality. The partograph is a monitoring tool that can provide a continuous pictorial overview and is essential to monitor and manage labour. It is recommended by the WHO for use universally by midwives while monitoring labour. However partographs are poorly utilized and most parameters on the partograph are not monitored and findings after reviewing a labouring woman are not documented on the partograph. It is unclear how midwives working in Namibian Health services experience and utilize the partograph during the monitoring of a woman in labour. These may be the factors that hinder the effective utilization of the partograph. The objective of this study was to explore and describe the experiences of midwives regarding the utilization of the partograph for monitoring a labouring woman in a Namibian regional hospital in order to develop guidelines based on the findings to improve the use of the partograph by midwives in order to improve the management of labour. The research design was qualitative, descriptive, explorative and contextual in nature. The research population consisted of midwives working in a regional hospital in Namibia. A purposive and convenient sampling method was used to select participants. Specific inclusion criteria were met and consent was obtained from the participants and from the Regional Health Directorate Management of the hospital where the research was conducted. Interviews were conducted by an independent interviewer within the Department of Health to ensure an unbiased viewpoint. Data were collected by means of semi-structured in depth interviews with a guide, using an audio tape recorder. Field notes were used to record non- verbal communication. As soon as data were saturated, the interviews were stopped. They were then transcribed, verbatim and analysed using the Tesch’s approach as described in (Creswell, 2009:186). The service of an independent coder was utilized to ensure trustworthiness. Trustworthiness was further ensured by using the strategies suggested by Lincoln and Guba’s model, namely credibility, transferability, dependability and confirmability. Ethical considerations were honoured throughout by adhering to ethical principles during the study. These included ensuring that the participants` rights were respected, they were not harmed and fairness were ensured. On completion of the data analysis a literature control was conducted and existing literature was compared to the findings in order to identify similarities and differences and to verify whether the literature supported the findings. Four main themes that emerged during data analysis are: Theme 1.Midwives found it a positive experience to use the partograph when caring for a woman in labour. Theme 2. When a midwife experienced problems in using the partograph, it may lead to detrimental outcomes. Theme 3. Utilizing the partograph evoked differing emotions in midwives. Theme 4. Midwives` knowledge and skills in the utilization of the partograph should be updated regularly. By describing the lived experienced of midwives in the maternity ward on the use of the partograph, the midwives had a positive attitude to using the partograph, but they also found it difficult to utilize the instrument as was directed by the (WHO) due to challenges experienced such as: unrealistic staff/patient ratio, shortage of staff, time consuming, insufficient knowledge and skills among midwives and lack of appropriate equipment. There is a specific need to prevent further negative emotions by addressing the challenges experienced. Based on the findings, guidelines for partograph utilization which aimed at improving the midwifery care were developed. Recommendations were made regarding midwifery education, clinical midwifery care and midwifery research.
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- Date Issued: 2015
Optimising the teaching-learning environment of first-year nursing students at a public nursing college
- Authors: Matshotyana, Ntombiyakhe Victoria
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: College student development programs , Nursing students
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MCur
- Identifier: vital:10052 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1018274
- Description: Transition from secondary to tertiary education presents unique challenges for first-year nursing students, similar to those experienced by other first-year students at any other tertiary education institution. Nursing students’ experiences are further complicated by the fact that nursing education incorporates almost equal amounts of time for class attendance and clinical practice placement. As a facilitator of learning for first-year nursing students, the researcher had observed how some new students were apprehensive and uncertain in their first year of study at the college. These and other observations, including those of the researcher’s colleagues, prompted the researcher to conduct a study to obtain information on how the first-year students at her college experience their first year of the nursing programme. This study, therefore, examined the experiences of first-year nursing students at a public college in the Eastern Cape Province enrolled in the four-year diploma programme that leads to registration as a nurse and midwife with the South African Nursing Council (SANC). Insights into these experiences were used to develop guidelines for nurse educators to optimise the teaching-learning environment of these students.Kotzé’s (1998) nursing accompaniment theory was used as a theoretical grounding for the study. The study followed a qualitative, explorative, descriptive and contextual design. Two of the college’s campuses were sampled for the study. One campus was in a more rural area and the other in a more urban area. Data was collected using purposive sampling of second-year students who were requested to think back to their first year of the nursing programme. Semi-structured, in-depth, face-to-face, individual interviews were conducted. Interview sessions were digitally recorded and then transcribed verbatim by the researcher. The researcher and an independent coder analysed the transcriptions using Tesch’s method of data analysis. The study’s trustworthiness was demonstrated through the criteria of credibility, transferability, dependability, confirmability and authenticity. The results indicated that students had positive and negative experiences in their first year of the nursing programme. Literature control placed the study’s findings within the existing body of knowledge with regard to students’ experiences of their first year. The students’ suggestions on how to enhance first-year nursing students’ experiences were incorporated into the guidelines that were developed for nurse educators to optimise the teaching-learning environment of first-year nursing students at this college.
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- Date Issued: 2015
Perceptions of Nelson Mandela Metropolitan obstetric unit midwives regarding consulting advanced midwives
- Authors: Sonti, Balandeli Siphumelele Israel
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Midwives -- South Africa -- Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality , Midwifery -- South Africa -- Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MCur
- Identifier: vital:10074 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1021196
- Description: The perceptions of Nelson Mandela Metropolitan Municipality obstetric unit midwives regarding consulting advanced midwives were researched. Currently South Africa is burdened with an increasing maternal mortality rate despite the control measures that have been put in place. One of those control measures is the skilling of midwives and ensuring that skilled birth attendants assist every woman in confinement. A concern, though, was observed by the researcher that an increasing number of midwives in the country now have an additional qualification in advanced midwifery and yet the maternal and neonatal mortality rates are gradually increasing. The researcher, as a midwife and a midwifery lecturer in that capacity, observed that in the clinical areas midwives prefer to consult with the doctor rather than the advanced midwife. In most cases looking and waiting for the doctor delays the management of the labouring woman as the doctor may not be immediately available. The advanced midwives are supposed to have advanced skills which should be used to assist in the absence of the doctor, particularly in the midwife obstetrics units. The study objectives were firstly, to describe and explore the perceptions of NMM obstetric unit midwives regarding consulting with advanced midwives. Secondly, based on the results of the study, to make recommendations to the managers of the obstetric units within the NMM that will enhance consulting between advanced midwives and midwives in obstetric units. The study was quantitative in nature and utilised an explorative, descriptive and contextual design. Sampling was made possible through simple random probability sampling using the non-replacement approach. The method of data collection was by self-administered questionnaires that were developed by the researcher under the guidance of a qualified and experienced statistician and researcher and the supervision of the research supervisor. Data was collected during July and September of 2014. One hundred and thirty questionnaires were distributed and ninety four were returned. Responses were captured on a spread sheet for easy and accurate calculation and the numerical data was categorized, ordered and manipulated with the help of a statistician using the software package Statistica Version 21 to ensure efficacy of the results The findings were presented by describing the biographic profile of participants, their competence in the identification and management of high risk situations, their consultation with advanced midwives in high risk situations, their reasons for not consulting advanced midwives and a description of factors that might encourage midwives to consult the advanced midwives. Literature controls were utilized to compare findings with current views of other researchers. Trustworthiness was maintained by observing the principles of reliability and validity. The ethical considerations of confidentiality, anonymity and protection of the participants from harm were maintained by the researcher. The findings revealed that there were significant numbers of midwives with many years of clinical experience and years in the units. The age difference of the midwives in the obstetrics units was seen to be an added advantage to the care of women as the young and old could complement each other with the latest information and experience in dealing with midwifery related emergencies respectively. The difference in gender was as expected but did not have an influence on the non-consulting with advanced midwives by the midwives who are working in the obstetrics units. Also, the limited confidence of midwives regarding their performance of certain low risk skills and their confidence in the performance of the advanced midwives was a reason to consult with the advanced midwives in their areas of speciality. Based on these findings, the researcher attended to the second objective and made the necessary recommendations to the managers of the obstetric units within the NMM to enhance consulting with advanced midwives by midwives in obstetric units. Midwives globally would gain information that would assist them in motivating recommendations to the managers of the obstetric units with regard to consulting with advanced midwives by midwives in their obstetric units.
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- Date Issued: 2015
The perceptions of professional nurses with regard to the process of withdrawing life-support treatment in a private intensive care unit
- Authors: Pheiffer, Evette
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Artificial respiration , Cardiotonic agents , Life support systems (Critical care)
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MCur
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/3115 , vital:20400
- Description: Life-support treatment is regarded as the support of vital functions of respiration and circulation such as mechanical ventilation and inotropic support, and life-sustaining therapy which incorporate therapies such as artificial hydration, nutrition and haemodialysis. Life-support treatment is rendered to critically ill patients within the intensive care units. However, when treatment options are maximised, and the patient’s condition is unchanged, a decision is often made to withdraw treatment. Professional nurses are usually involved in the process of withdrawal of life-support treatment as they care for this population of patients. The study followed a qualitative, explorative, descriptive and contextual research paradigm in order to explore and describe the perceptions of professional nurses with regard to the process of withdrawing life-support treatment in a private intensive care unit. Data was collected by means of interviews, which were transcribed according to Tesch’s method of analysis. Field notes were used to supplement the data findings. Based on the data collected, it is clear that professional nurses experience difficulties when performing withdrawal of life-support treatment. There are a number of communication concerns which need to be addressed and suggestions were also made by the interview participants regarding these concerns. The study makes recommendations to assist professional nurses with the process of withdrawing life-support treatment in a private intensive care unit. The findings of the study will be disseminated to the relevant hospital and unit managers. Ethical principles were maintained throughout the study by adhering to the principles of privacy, confidentiality, anonymity and beneficence.
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- Date Issued: 2015
Community service professional nurses' experiences of bullying in state hospitals
- Authors: Yon, Gadieja
- Date: 2014
- Subjects: Public health nurses , Bullying in the workplace , State hospitals
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MCur
- Identifier: vital:10056 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1018622
- Description: It is estimated that 80 percent of nurses experience some type of bullying in the workplace during their working lives, and bullying from colleagues has become a major concern. Bullying involves repeated forms of negative behaviours directed at a victim over time. More specifically, the victim is bullied repeatedly over time, with bullying ranging from mild to more severe forms that often go unreported. Bullying in the workplace may cause low self-esteem, depression and anxiety, physical illness and in some cases, the inability to work. The aim of this research study was to explore and describe community service professional nurses’ experiences of being bullied in state hospitals. The information gathered during the course of the study was used to develop strategies that can prevent the bullying of community service professional nurses in the workplace. The design of the study was qualitative, exploratory, descriptive, and contextual in nature. The population sample included all community service professional nurses in state hospitals in the Nelson Mandela Bay area. The researcher employed purposive sampling to select participants from the population of community service professional nurses employed at state hospitals. She collected data by conducting semi-structured individual interviews to gain in-depth accounts from participants and by making observations, which were captured in field notes. Data collected during the interviews were transcribed verbatim and analysed according to Tesch’s eight steps of analysis. Themes were identified through this process and compared to relevant literature. The researcher used the services of an independent coder to aid in the coding process. Trustworthiness was ensured by following Lincoln and Guba’s model of trustworthiness, which comprises the following concepts: credibility, transferability, dependability, and conformability. The researcher ensured that the study adhered to high ethical standards through the principles of justice, beneficence, non-maleficence, and respect for people.
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- Date Issued: 2014
Die ervaring van die geregistreerde verpleegkundedosent ten opsigte van die kliniese begeleiding van verpleegstudente
- Authors: De Wet, Annemie
- Date: 2014
- Subjects: Nursing students , Mentoring in nursing -- South Africa
- Language: Afrikaans
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MCur
- Identifier: vital:10053 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/1018275
- Description: Die doel van die studie was om vas te stel hoe die verpleegkundedosent die begeleiding van verpleegstudente in die praktyk ervaar. In die verlede was begeleiding van verpleegstudente met praktika in gesondheidsorginstansies deur ʼn professionele verpleegkundige gedoen wat deel was van die personeel se verantwoordelikhede. Die verpleegstudente doen hul teoretiese kennis op by ʼn tersiêre instansie en verkry hul praktiese kennis by ʼn geakkrediteerde gesondheidsorginstansie soos vereis deur die Suid-Afrikaanse Raad op Verpleging (SARV). Een van die take van ‘n verpleegkundedosent van die privaat opleidingskool is om die kliniese begeleiding van verpleegstudente in geakkrediteerde instellings te doen. Omdat verpleging ʼn beroep is waar vaardighede belangrik is, is praktiese inoefening van prosedures en evaluering van die verpleegstudente se vaardigheid daarin noodsaaklik. Die verpleegstudente is heeltyd besig met die pasiënte in die vorm van prosedures waarby die teorie wat in die opleidingskool verkry was, gekorreleer moet word met die prosedure om die hele prentjie te vorm. Dit is dus nodig dat begeleiding van die verpleegstudente gedoen moet word om vaardigheid en toepassing van kennis te verseker. Die navorser het ʼn kwalitatiewe, ondersoekende, beskrywende en kontekstuele studie gedoen waarvan die populasie die geregistreerde dosente van verskeie provinsiale en privaatverpleegskole in die Klein-Karoo en Suid-kaapdistrikte was. Die navorser het gebruik gemaak van ʼn nie-waarskynlike steekproef. Inligtingryke data was ingesamel deur semi-gestruktureerde onderhoude wat aangevul was met veldnotas soos verkry tydens onderhoude. Data-ontleding was reeds begin met data-insameling en Tesch se inhoudsontleding was gebruik om ʼn mening te vorm. ‘n Literatuurkontrole was gedoen om te bepaal wat vorige navorsing oor begeleiding bevind en aanbeveel het. Lincoln en Guba se model was gebruik vir betroubaarheidsversekering volgens die kriteria wat hulle aanbeveel het, naamlik geloofwaardigheid, oordraagbaarheid, betroubaarheid en bevestigbaarheid. Uit die data-ontleding het vier belangrike temas en subtemas te voorskyn gekom. Die temas was dat die verpleegkundedosente aspekte van die begeleiding van verpleegstudente in die gesondheidsorginstansie as positief en ook as negatief beleef. Die wyse waarop die gesondheidsorginstansies bestuur word, het die begeleiding beïnvloed en daar was riglyne voorgestel wat die kliniese personeel en dosente kan rig wanneer hulle betrokke raak by die begeleiding van verpleegstudente. Die begeleiding van verpleegstudente deur verpleegkundedosente, kliniese dosente en die gesondheidsorginstansie se opgeleide personeel, is ʼn belangrike deel van verpleegopleiding en bepaal uiteindelik die kwaliteit van die pasiëntsorg wat verskaf word deur die verpleegkundiges. Die navorser het riglyne daar gestel om die begeleiding van vepleegstudente te rig. Die riglyne moet nou geïmplementeer en getoets word binne die konteks van die bepaalde verpleegskole en dan weer geëvalueer word. Beperkings wat ondervind was in die studie was dat die steekproef ʼn klein groepie verpleegkundedosente op die platteland was, wat veralgemening bemoeilik, veral in die stedelike konteks. Die begeleiding van die verpleegstudente is gedoen met die ingeskrewe verpleegstudente (Die Suid-Afrikaanse Raad op Verpleging Regulasies, Regulasie 2176 en 2175 van 19 November 1993), naamlik die kategorie met die minste status en verantwoordelikheid onder verpleegstudente. Veralgemening na alle kategorieë, veral verpleegstudente besig met professionele verpleegprogramme, mag dus nie sinvol wees nie.
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- Date Issued: 2014
Experiences of labouring women of the use of the birthing ball
- Authors: Vieira,Melissa Jolene
- Date: 2014
- Subjects: Delivery (Obstetrics) , Midwifery -- South Africa Midwives -- South Africa Neonatal nursing
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MCur
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/44088 , vital:37106
- Description: Labour pain seems to be a challenge to the most of the labour wards/units. The birthing pain is non-avoidable but could be managed. Labouring women are sometimes limiting themselves to their beds as they are not coping well with the amount of pain they experience and this behaviour affects the progress of their labour. Different methods of pain relief in labour are available but are sometimes perceived by labouring women and midwives as not effective. Mobility has been noted in several obstetrical and midwifery nursing literature as the best strategy to promote positive progress of labour thus limiting pain. The use of the birthing ball by labouring women appears to be serving the purpose of mobility in labour. The researcher of this study aimed to investigate the experiences related to the use of the birthing ball by the labouring women. The objectives of the study were: To explore and describe the experiences of women in labour related to the use of the birthing ball, and based on the findings of the study, to recommend guidelines for the midwives to manage the first stage of labour through the use of the birthing ball. The research design used was qualitative, descriptive, explorative and contextual in nature, utilizing the phenomenological approach. The research population consisted of women who had made use of the birthing ball during labour. Data collection consisted of one-on-one unstructured interviews and field notes. The question that the participants were asked was: “Tell me, how it was for you when you were using the birthing ball during labour?” Collected data was analysed according to Creswell’s data analysis spiral and the assistance of an independent coder. Following the data analysis, a literature control was undertaken to highlight the similarities to and differences in comparison between this and previous studies. Lincoln and Guba’s Model of trustworthiness was used in this study to enhance credibility of the findings. The four aspects that were considered were credibility, transferability, dependability and confirmability. The researcher ensured that the study was ethically correct by observing the principles of informed consent, confidentiality, anonymity and no harm done to participants. Three major themes and sub-themes were identified through analysis of the database. Participants’ experienced the birthing ball as a useful labour tool as: it relieves pain and allows them to relax and be comfortable, it helped to promote mobility during labour. Participants’ experienced the birthing ball as shortening the labour process as: it decreased the number of active pushes during delivery, it increased their contractions and resulted in a quick delivery. Participants experienced the use of the birthing ball as empowering during labour as: it introduces an element of fun which decreases their fear and resulted in a more positive labouring experience it allowed them to feel in control of their labour. Based on the findings of the study, conclusions were drawn, guidelines recommended and recommendations made concerning nursing research, nursing education and clinical practice.
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- Date Issued: 2014
Experiences of professional nurses related to caring for chronic mentally ill patients at rural primary healthcare clinics
- Authors: Sam, Noluthando
- Date: 2014
- Subjects: Mentally ill -- Rehabilitation , Chronically ill -- Rehabilitation , Hospitals -- Case management services , Mentally ill -- Care
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MCur
- Identifier: vital:10068
- Description: Since the deinstitutionalisation of chronic mentally ill patients, there has been an increase in the number of relapsed chronic mentally ill patients who become acutely mentally ill and need to be re-admitted for acute care in psychiatric institutions. Professional nurses working at rural primary healthcare clinics find it difficult to care for these individuals because they lack the necessary knowledge and skills. Chronic mentally ill patients who have been admitted to acute care facilities are stabilised by rendering care, treatment and rehabilitation and then released into the care of the professional nurses working at rural primary healthcare clinics. These patients live in the community and have to make use of the primary healthcare clinics nearest to their homes to provide them with their prescribed medication and care. Furthermore the patients’ mental conditions do not always remain stable, possibly because of a knowledge deficit, at times about their mental status. Patients may become non-compliant, resulting in the recurrence of symptoms, and thus need to be re-admitted to the acute care facility. However, the problem leading to re-admission is not clear for all admissions. It may be that patients do not make use of the primary healthcare clinics. It also seems that the professional nurses in the primary healthcare clinics are unfamiliar in dealing with chronic mentally ill patients living in rural communities. The aim of this study was therefore, to explore and describe the experiences of these professional nurses in caring for chronic mentally ill patients living in a rural community. The researcher used qualitative, explorative, descriptive, and contextual research design. The research population consisted of professional nurses working at primary healthcare clinics. Non-probability purposive sampling was used to identify participants for inclusion in the study. Data collection was conducted using one-on-one, semi structured interviews, observations and field notes and interviews were tape-recorded and transcribed. Data analysis was conducted using Tesh’s method of content analysis to identify themes and sub-themes. A literature control was done to compare the findings to the current published research. Trustworthiness was ensured by using Gubas’s model (1985) of trustworthiness. A pilot study, conducted by interviewing a small sample prior to the start of the main study, determined whether the sampling and interviewing techniques of the researcher as well as the research questions were adequate for data collection. The researcher ensured that the study was of a high ethical standard by taking into consideration values that guide the principles of autonomy, beneficence, non-maleficence and justice. The findings of the study was categorised into three main themes and 13 sub-themes. The main themes were as follow: Professional nurses experience problems when they have to take care of psychiatric patients attending rural primary healthcare clinics. This theme had six sub-themes which were discussed in details in chapter three. The second theme was that professional nurses experience that psychiatric patients in rural communities experience problems which affected their well-being. This second theme has got five sub-themes which were discussed further in chapter three. The last theme was that professional nurses have positive experiences when caring for psychiatric patients in rural communities. This theme has got two sub-themes as well discussed further in chapter three.
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- Date Issued: 2014