Karien Jooste

Male involvement in reproductive health: a management perspective

AIMS The present study outlines the perceptions of participants on male involvement in reproductive health (RH) from a management perspective. BACKGROUND Namibia is one of the African countries affected by cultural and socio-economic influences that have persuaded gender roles in a way that hinders male-partner involvement in RH. METHOD A qualitative, exploratory, descriptive design was followed. The target population included all male and female partners attending a health facility and all nurse managers (registered nurses in charge) that provided RH services in the health facility in a northern region in Namibia. Individual interviews were conducted until data saturation occurred. RESULTS The results indicate that the management principles, policy and legislation, as well as resources to facilitate male involvement in RH, were indicated as barriers for nurse managers to facilitate male involvement. CONCLUSION Male involvement in RH care is needed for an interpersonal and interactive partnership. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSE MANAGERS Recommendations are made to establish a partnership within the current health care framework in which reproductive health is provided.

Comparing nurse managers and nurses' perceptions of nurses' self-leadership during capacity building

AIMS This paper compares the perceptions of nurse managers and nurses about self-leadership of professional nurses while taking ownership of capacity building during unit management. BACKGROUND The Nursing Strategy for South Africa states that the competency of nurses is dependent upon factors that lead to capacity building. METHOD A quantitative design was followed by conducting a survey. The target population included nurse managers and professional nurses working at an academic public hospital in the Gauteng Province of South Africa. RESULTS The findings indicate shortcomings in relation to advising professional nurses about self-direction while taking ownership of their daily pressures and stresses associated with unit management. CONCLUSION Professional nurses should develop their confidence by focusing on their self-leadership strengths when managing a unit. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSE MANAGERS Recommendations are made to promote self-leadership while taking ownership of nurses during capacity building of unit management.

Factors that guide nurse managers regarding the staffing of agency nurses in intensive care units at private hospitals in Pretoria

Staffing needs affect the nursing departments budget, staff productivity, the quality of care provided to patients and even the retention of nurses. It is unclear how the role players (the nursing agency manager, the nurse manager and the agency nurse) perceive the staffing of agency nurses in intensive care units (ICUs). The purpose of this study was to explore and describe the factors that guide nurse managers regarding the staffing of agency nurses in ICUs at private hospitals in Pretoria. A quantitative exploratory and descriptive design was used. A survey by means of a structured questionnaire was carried out. Probability sampling was implemented to obtain a study sample (n=124). One similar self-administered 5-point scale instrument was completed by the participants. Data was analysed by means of descriptive and inferential statistics. The principles of validity and reliability were adhered to and ethical considerations were also taken into account. The results indicated limitations in the determining of posts, recruitment and advertising, as well as the selection and appointment of agency nurses in ICUs at private hospitals in Pretoria. Recommendations on staffing are made to nurse managers in ICUs.

Implications for nurse managers arising from immigrant women’s experience of midwifery care in a hospital

tebid r., du plessis d., beukes s., van niekerk v. & jooste k. (2011) Journal of Nursing Management19, 967–975 Implications for nurse managers arising from immigrant women’s experience of midwifery care in a hospital Aim  This paper focuses on implications for nurse managers to support midwives in delivering nursing care to immigrant mothers in some government hospitals in Gauteng, South Africa. Background  Immigration and poverty in Africa has led to midwives providing nursing care to immigrant mothers in a culturally sensitive environment. This necessitates an environment in which nurse managers should support midwives in caring for these mothers as unique individuals. Method  An exploratory, descriptive phenomenological design was followed. The target population included nine immigrant mothers living in the inner centre of Johannesburg who, for the first time, attended, had antenatal clinics, laboured and gave birth at a Government Hospital in the Gauteng province of South Africa. After purposive sampling, phenomenological interviews were conducted until data saturation occurred. Results  The findings indicate that nurse managers should ensure that midwifery care of immigrant mothers comply with the ethical–legal context of the South African constitution. Actions should be taken in combating issues related to impaired maternal–midwife relationship, lack of cultural sensitivity and psychological distress. Conclusion  The delivery of maternity care to immigrant mothers is below the standard expected in the South African context. Implications for nursing management  The nurse manager should support midwives to ensure an environment to care for immigrant mothers in maternity wards.AIM This paper focuses on implications for nurse managers to support midwives in delivering nursing care to immigrant mothers in some government hospitals in Gauteng, South Africa. BACKGROUND Immigration and poverty in Africa has led to midwives providing nursing care to immigrant mothers in a culturally sensitive environment. This necessitates an environment in which nurse managers should support midwives in caring for these mothers as unique individuals. METHOD An exploratory, descriptive phenomenological design was followed. The target population included nine immigrant mothers living in the inner centre of Johannesburg who, for the first time, attended, had antenatal clinics, laboured and gave birth at a Government Hospital in the Gauteng province of South Africa. After purposive sampling, phenomenological interviews were conducted until data saturation occurred. RESULTS The findings indicate that nurse managers should ensure that midwifery care of immigrant mothers comply with the ethical-legal context of the South African constitution. Actions should be taken in combating issues related to impaired maternal-midwife relationship, lack of cultural sensitivity and psychological distress. CONCLUSION The delivery of maternity care to immigrant mothers is below the standard expected in the South African context. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING MANAGEMENT The nurse manager should support midwives to ensure an environment to care for immigrant mothers in maternity wards.

Current nursing practice: challenges and successes

The changing healthcare environment is placing greater demands on all healthcare service sectors, including nursing practice. Nurses are professionally engaged in caring for human beings and to pursue nursing as their profession actively (Merriam Webster Dictionary 2011). However, every year, changes in the healthcare environment accelerate, opportunities become harder to predict, competitors emerge at an ever-increasing pace and partnering with internal and external customers becomes essential for success. It is thus inevitable that the pace of changes in nursing practice will continue to increase, and the level of complexity and interdependence in practice will continue to grow (Boss & Sims 2008, Politis 2006). These new practices and the things nurses will focus on will become their reality, and the actions they will perform will create their reality (Hall & Hammond, Reed 2007).

Contract workers at HEIs within a framework of motivational leadership

Most literature sources are based on negative assumptions about contract workers and career success. Despite the growing number of contract workers employed at higher education institutions (HEIs), and the changes it elicits in the work place, there has been little theoretical work conducted about a positive perspective of contract workers in relation to achieving organisational or personal goals. A review of the topic about contract workers has been undertaken from the perspective of motivational leadership, incorporating the theoretical perspectives of the goal setting theory (Locke 1960 in Jooste 2009) and the model of complex man and organisations (Schein 1992 in Jooste 2009).

A FRAMEWORK FOR THE LEADERSHIP OF YOUTH VICTIMS OF VIOLENCE TO WELLNESS

Health care professionals have been charged to demonstrate their leadership capabilities in leading youth victims of violence to wellness. However, the manner in which health care professionals can implement this responsibility remains unknown. The purpose of this research was to develop a framework for health care professionals to apply in leading youth victims of violence towards wellness after an incidence of violence at a rural community in the Western Cape Province of South Africa. The design used for developing the framework was qualitative, exploratory, descriptive and contextual. Sampling was done through purposive sampling technique. Focus group discussions were used to collect data from 58 (23 males, 35 females) youth victims of violence while unstructured individual interviews were used amongst 7 health care professionals (2 professional nurses, 3 medical doctors and 2 social workers). Sample size was determined by data saturation. Field notes were taken during data collection. Open coding was used for data analysis. Trustworthiness was maintained and ethical considerations were adhered to. Research findings revealed that youth victims of violence were concerned about the problem of violence among youth and they anticipate that health care professionals would lead them to wellness. The health care professionals acknowledged the importance of leading the youth victims to wellness and also identified the challenges they were facing. Nevertheless, both groups proposed useful strategies for leading youth victims to wellness. These findings were triangulated to develop an original participative leadership framework with information for leading youth victims of violence towards wellness.

The Graying of Rural America: Community Engagement and Health Promotion Challenges:

Background. Although social participation has been linked to positive physical and mental health outcomes, elderly people in rural areas remain highly disengaged. Also, few studies have examined community residents’ perceptions of the barriers and opportunities for the elderly to participate in community activities. Purpose. This article highlights the perceptions of rural community residents regarding their understanding of the following: (1) community leadership, (2) barriers and opportunities for the elderly to engage in leadership, and (3) potential community-based solutions for promoting more social participation. Method. Individual interviews were conducted with 16 community members. Content analysis was used to analyze the data. Researchers immersed and familiarized themselves with the data prior to developing codes. Coding was initially done manually and later using NVivo. Findings. Four major themes emerged: conceptions of community leadership, elderly resource inventory, barriers to elderly engagement, and potential solutions. Themes collectively illustrated that residents have a clear understanding of the role of community leadership, of available resources for the elderly, and of the barriers encountered when using these resources. Conclusion. Our findings highlight a need for health promotion strategies that are informed by community needs and foster healthy lifestyles for all community residents.

Challenges of academic healthcare leaders in a higher education context in South Africa

Universities are in a highly competitive environment, needing strong academic leadership. Some heads of departments have been appointed into leadership positions in a healthcare faculty after having been mere academics for a few years. They are more likely to experience challenges. This study aimed to explore the views and understanding of heads of departments in a healthcare faculty on being appointed as academic leaders in a higher education context in South Africa. A qualitative design using 12 individual unstructured interviews was conducted with all the heads of departments in a health sciences faculty. Open coding was conducted and two themes emerged, focusing on the varied skills needed for academic leadership positions and developing leadership skills amongst senior academics. The findings indicated that development of senior academics in leadership should be undertaken by a knowledgeable professional in formal or informal settings, to encourage mentorship and more regular group meetings, while addressing the core role of a leader. Implications of these findings for a faculty of health sciences and suggestions for leadership succession in future are discussed.

Support of students by academics in a nursing foundation programme at a university in the Western Cape

Background Owing to the inadequate schooling system and the under-preparedness of students in South African high schools, Higher Education Institutions are faced with students who do not meet the minimum criteria for acceptance into a mainstream programme and need support from an extended foundation programme. Objectives The study described the support of students by lecturers in an extended 5-year nursing foundation programme. Method A qualitative, exploratory and descriptive design was applied. Purposive sampling was conducted, and eight nursing students who completed the foundation year took part in semi-structured individual interviews. Each interview took around 30 min and was digitally recorded. Data were transcribed verbatim and analysed using open coding. Ethical principles and trustworthiness were maintained throughout the study. Results The findings of this study indicated that experiences varied on a foundation programme. Participants expressed support in a nurturing environment in which the lecturers were open and approachable with a positive attitude. Lecturers could support students by being caring and advising in learning methods around the programme. Lecturers could focus on the method of peer support which should be encouraged beyond the programme so as to provide a sense of camaraderie amongst students. Conclusion Data revealed that support of lecturers in a foundation programme needs creative methods to make the learning environment nurturing for students. This provides for students from diverse backgrounds the opportunity to prepare for their studies at a university level. Insights gained from this study, which highlight the importance of supporting foundation students, could benefit all nurse educators offering foundation programmes.