3. Electronic Theses and Dissertations (ETDs) - All submissions
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Item The development of a standardised adaption program for enrolled nurses in critical care units of a private healthcare group in South Africa(2018) Dunsdon, JeananneCritical care units are highly technological environments and the nursing staff who work in the units are highly trained and competent to work within this environment. They are passionate care givers and deliver safe quality patient care. Due to the everincreasing shortage of professional nurses working within the critical care units, it has become necessary to introduce enrolled nurses into these specialised areas. This has resulted in an increasing sub-standard nursing care as well as increased complaints from patients and doctors. Enrolled nurses are not trained to work in these high-tech environments and therefore do not have the same level of competence as professional nurses. Adaptation programs (otherwise known as orientation programs) are in place, but the content of these programs and the evaluation of competency was questionable. The purpose of this phased study was to develop an adaptation program for enrolled nurses practicing in the critical care units, to facilitate competent care of patients within the critical care units by enrolled nurses. Phase 1 explored and described the content and functionality of the existing adaptation programs in the critical care units. In phase 2 a standardised adaptation program for enrolled nurses practicing in the critical care units was developed to equip them with the knowledge and competence to care for patients in the critical care units within their scope of practice. In phase 3, the adaptation program as piloted. This study used an intervention research design and employed mainly qualitative methods. The population of this study was the enrolled nurses, and professional nurses working in the selected critical care units of this private healthcare group in Gauteng, South Africa. The first phase of the study showed that the current adaptation programs were inadequate and consisted mainly of tick lists with no efforts to measure competency. Nominal groups of both enrolled nurses and professional nurses indicated a need for a standardized program which emphasized documentation, soft skills and certain competencies. Pre-testing indicated a knowledge deficit in several areas on the part of the enrolled nurses. Once the new program was designed based on the data collected, v it was piloted on nine enrolled nurses. Indicators related to patient satisfaction, affective and psychomotor competency of the enrolled nurses and satisfaction of their supervisors improved. There was little evidence, however, that knowledge levels improved. The researcher concluded the study by making recommendations for Nursing practice, education and research.