Marthie C. Bezuidenhout

Factors affecting the performance of professional nurses in Namibia

BACKGROUND Professional nurses play a vital role in the provision of health care globally. The performance of health care workers, including professional nurses, link closely to the productivity and quality of care provision within health care organisations. It was important to identify factors influencing the performance of professional nurses if the quality of health care delivery was to improved. OBJECTIVES The aim of the present study was to identify factors affecting the performance of professional nurses in Namibia. METHOD A quantitative, descriptive survey was used to collect data by means of a questionnaire. A random sample of 180 professional nurses was selected from six hospitals in three regions of Namibia. RESULTS Factors affecting the performance of nurses negatively were identified such as: lack of recognition of employees who are performing well, quality performance outcomes and an absence of a formal performance appraisal system and poor working conditions. Various factors contribute to both the positive and negative performance of professional nurses in Namibia. Strategies were developed for addressing the negative factors that could positively affect the performance of professional nurses in Namibia. CONCLUSIONS This study emphasises the importance of developing strategies to promote the performance of nurses; build knowledge and expertise; develop mechanisms for improving the performance of nurses; expand leadership and management capacity; and generate information and knowledge through research.

Communication satisfaction of professional nurses working in public hospitals

AIM This study aimed to establish and describe the level of communication satisfaction that professional nurses experience in selected public hospitals in the City of Johannesburg, South Africa. BACKGROUND The success of any organisation depends on the effectiveness of its communication systems and the interaction between staff members. METHOD Data were collected by means of questionnaires, based on the Communication Satisfaction Questionnaire (CSQ), from a sample of 265 professional nurses from different categories, chosen using a disproportionate random stratified sampling method. RESULTS The results indicated poor personal feedback between nurse managers (operational managers) and professional nurses, as well as dissatisfaction among nurse managers and professional nurses with regard to informal communication channels. A lack of information pertaining to policies, change, financial standing and achievements of hospitals was identified. CONCLUSION Nurse managers should play a leadership role in bringing staff of different departments together by creating interactive communication forums for the sharing of ideas. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING MANAGEMENT The results emphasise the need for nurse managers to improve communication satisfaction at all levels of the hospital services in order to enhance staff satisfaction and create a positive working environment for staff members.

Die invloed van die geregistreerde verpleegkundige as rolmodel op die studentverpleegkundige

A survey was undertaken by means of a questionnaire submitted to third year student nurses studying at the S. G. Laurens College of Nursing in Pretoria. The aim of the study was to determine whether, and to what extent, the registered nurse, as role model, influenced the student nurse in her decision to remain as an employee at her training hospital after qualifying as a registered nurse. Analyses of the data showed the wara sister as the central figure within the ward situation with potentially comprehensive powers to influence all with whom she comes into contact, especially student nurses. The majority of respondents reported that the ward sisters lacked the characteristics they thought essential and seeked in a positive role model. Thus they were disappointed in the nursing profession and especially in the way it was being practised in their training schools, and therefore led them to seek employment in the private sector at completion of training.