3. Electronic Theses and Dissertations (ETDs) - All submissions
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Item Role transition experiences of professional nurses to primary healthcare nursing(2024) Rasdien, ZaakirahThe transition process into specialist nursing can be challenging for any professional nurse. There is a general expectation that once a professional nurse has completed an additional specialised qualification, they should be ready for practice on the first day. Strange (2015) alluded to the fact that lack of preparation and role transition structure can ultimately impact the care of patients. Currently, there exists a gap in the knowledge of professional nurses’ experiences of role transition to PHCN. The purpose of the study was to explore the role transition experiences of professional nurses to primary health care nursing in the City of Johannesburg. An explanatory sequential mixed methods study design, which consisted of two phases was used in this study. Phase 1: consisted of a quantitative research study conducted using a self-administered Nurse Practitioner Role Transition Scale (NPRTS) developed by Cusson et al. (2015). The study participants were selected using a total population sampling strategy that resulted in a sample size of (n=80) trained PHC nurses from the seven regions within the City of Johannesburg in the 2019 to 2020. Phase 2: Individual semi-structured interviews were conducted on purposively selected sample until data saturation reached at (n=12) participants. The participants were selected from the participants in the first phase. Thematic data analysis was conducted yielding two themes, five categories and eight sub-categories. Findings showed that the role transition experiences included role change to being an independent patient care giver and taking more responsibilities in filling in the new role. The newly qualified PHCNs had to navigate: health personnel related challenges, institutional and emotional challenges. Some of the challenges expressed were lack of support from management and colleagues, shortage of staff, inadequate medications and equipment, and lack of orientation and mentorship. Recommendations: It is recommended that there is a development of orientation programmes and establishment of mentoring programmes that has a dedicated person responsible for the novice PHC nurses during their first year of practice to enhance supportive attitudes towards the newly qualified PHCN. Secondly, there are adequate resources needed to effectively function as a PHC nurse. The third recommendation is the need for institutions to increase the number of training of PHCNs to mitigate the shortage of staff, work overload and burnout. The final recommendation, is the establishment of a PHCNs forum, an association whereby all PHCNs could receive updates and guidelines on everything relevant to PHC.Item The educational experiences of the deaf adolescents attending a school for the deaf in Gauteng.(2012-07-05) Van Zyl, NicolaThis study aimed to describe the educational experiences of deaf adolescent learners attending a school for the deaf in South Africa. The specific objectives of the current study included: (a) obtaining a detailed description of the educational experiences of deaf adolescent learners; (b) establishing with which rhetoric (medical vs. cultural) the deaf adolescents could best identify; (c) establishing the potential influence on individual identity development of the established affiliations with the opposing models of deafness. Ten deaf adolescents ranging between 14 and 16 years, attending a single school for the deaf were selected as participants for the current study. A basic research design and a qualitative approach, embedded within the theory of social constructivism were employed. Two pilot studies were conducted in order to establish the feasibility of the current study. Thereafter, interviews as per the ‘interview guide approach’ were administered. Field observations within the school context and file reviews were also conducted. Thematic content analysis was employed and the identified themes were described qualitatively. Results revealed the emergence of three themes. Within these themes, the adolescents’ experiences included: limited SASL role models both at home and at school, negative educational encounters as well as positivity and hope for the future. Experiences characteristic of the medical model and socio-cultural model of deafness were reported and factors affecting these affiliations were described. The researcher concluded that a level of affiliation with both the medical and the sociocultural models of deafness existed for the participants. The impact of these affiliations on identity construction was explored and a model of identity development, the multiculturalexperience model, was proposed. The education of deaf individuals in South Africa shows room for significant growth. By adjusting government education policies for deaf education as well as supporting the goals of early intervention, deaf learners can reach their full potential regardless of the mode of communication favoured.Item The role of the university in the field of nanotechnology : the case of the University of the Witwatersrand.(2008-12-19T07:00:27Z) Iyuke, Patience OdiriThis study examines the role of the university in the domain of nanotechnology research and training using the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits) as a case study. It focused on the Faculties of Science and Engineering, given their involvement in the field. It is essentially a qualitative study based on documentary analysis and semi-structured interviews with academic staff members. It shows how the University of Witwatersrand has responded to the South African National Nanotechnology Strategy set by the South African government to enhance the country’s global competitiveness and sustainable economic growth in strategic areas. The study reveals that Wits has selectively by firmly engaged in the domain of nanotechnology and has laid the foundations for a comprehensive programme in both research and training. However, its success in this direction will largely depend upon the ways it maximises the use of the increasing opportunities offered by globalization and it manages the constraints associated with it. By opportunities here I refer to the multiplicity of research sites outside the narrow academic domain and the increasing interest displayed by government, the private sector and relevant international agencies in the field. The constraints are connected to the fact that the field of nanotechnology remains incipient and suffers from the uncertainties surrounding a relatively young field of enquiry in universities in South Africa (financial shortages, lack of skills etc).