An evaluation of perceptions on the preparedness of professional nurses in terms of the human resource development strategy for the transforming health care system in KwaZulu-Natal province
Date
1999
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Abstract
This is a study which aimed at evaluating perceptions on the preparedness of
professional nurses in terms of the human resource development strategy for the
transforming health care system in KwaZulu-Natal Province. The main concern
was that the current professional (registered) nurses were not adequately prepared
to participate effectively in a primary health care focused system.
A descriptive survey was conducted in three (3) hospitals representing the urban,
rural and metropolitan institutions in KwaZulu-Natal. Two sets of interview
schedules were designed for the professional nurses and deputy directors (nursing
service managers) in charge of institutions. A questionnaire was designed for the
regional deputy directors of the three health regions where the study was
conducted. The total sample comprised one hundred (100) professional nurses,
three (3) Nursing Service Managers and three (3) Regional Deputy Directors.
The study revealed that professional nurses were not all aware of the
transformation in the health care system. It also revealed that professional nurses ,
were not adequately prepared (trained) to participate effectively in the transforming
health care system. The study further revealed that reorientation programmes are
undertaken to enable professional nurses to adapt to the transformation but these
are not widely available and are poorly coordinated.
Based on the findings of the study, it is recommended that reorientation
programmes should be undertaken on a wider scale to orientate staff on the
transformation of the health care system and primary health care skills. Health
service managers should also be reorientated on management skills to enable them
to manage transforming health care services. A Transformation Adaptation Model
has been developed to facilitate preparedness for the transformation.
Description
A thesis submitted to the Faculty of Science, Agriculture and Engineering in fulfilment of the requirements for the Degree of Master of Science in the Department of Nursing Science at the University of Zululand, South Africa [1999].
Keywords
Nursing Science-Human Resources, Human Resources-Nursing Science