An evaluation of the impact of post-basic nursing programmes offered by the University of Zululand
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Date
2001
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Abstract
This is a study which aimed at evaluating the impact of post-basic nursing programmes offered by the nursing science department of the University of Zululand, in KwaZulu-Natal from 1981-1988. The aim was to establish relevance and appropriateness of these nursing programmes in relation to the needs of the country, and to evaluate how the graduates of this university are utilized by the supervisors in the health services and educational institutions. A further aim was to describe the biographical educational and professional background of the graduates from the nursing science department at the University of Zululand.
An exploratory descriptive survey was conducted in the hospitals, nursing colleges and nursing schools in KwaZulu-Natal Province where graduates from the nursing science department worked, and the nursing science department of the University of Zululand. Two sets of interview schedules were designed for graduates of the University of Zululand nursing science department and supervisors of these graduates. The total sample comprised seventy-five (75) graduates and twenty-nine (29) supervisors.
The study revealed that the post-basic nursing programmes of the University of Zululand nursing science department are relevant and appropriate to the changing needs of the Province KwaZulu-Natal though there was a need to introduce advanced clinical diplomas and courses. The study further revealed that the nursing graduates were properly utilized by the supervisors in the health services and educational institutions. The profile of a graduate from post-basic nursing programmes of the University of Zululand were mostly females above 30 years of age, married and employed mostly in semi-urban and urban areas. Very few graduates had postgraduate qualifications, that is honours, masters and doctorates.
Based on the findings of the study it was recommended that for relevance in clinical situations and appropriateness the nursing science department should develop more advanced clinical programmes. It was also recommended that the Post-Basic nursing programmes should be continually evaluated and that the actual utilization of the products from nursing programmes be monitored.
An Outcomes-Based Educational Model (OBEV) has been developed as a model for evaluation of post-basic nursing programmes.
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Submitted in fulfilment of the requirements of a D. Phil Degree Nursing Science, at the University of Zululand, 2001.
Keywords
Health scemes, Training and education, Tertiary education (General), Education