Mthethwa, Florance Thabi Pinkie2012-10-082012-10-082012-10-08http://hdl.handle.net/10539/12086MM thesis - P&DMCharlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic (CMJA) Hospital has experienced a shortage of critical beds for a period of more than thirteen years without investigating the factors that are contributing to the shortage. The purpose of this study was to determine the underlying factors that contributed to the shortage of critical care beds at the CMJA Hospital. The study also focused on the implications of the hospital strategic plan regarding the factors identified, and proposed interventions to resolve the shortage of critical care beds at the CMJA hospital. The hospital’s strategic plan had measures in place to begin to address the shortage. Findings revealed that the main factor that contributed to the shortage of critical care beds at the hospital was the shortage of critical care nurses. The study recommended that the South African Nursing Council should develop a curriculum for lower categories of nurses to function in critical care areas.enHospitals, South AfricaNursing shortage, South AfricaCritical care in hospitalsThesis