Strikes by nursing personnel : a challenge for nurse managers in KwaZulu-Natal province
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Date
1995
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Abstract
The main aim of this study was to investigate the problem of strike action by nursing personnel as well as the challenges this poses to nurse managers. This study also aimed at detecting views of nurse managers and nursing personnel on nurses' strikes especially with regard to the effect of these on standards of patient care.
The study was done in four hospitals in the KwaZuIu-Natal province. A descriptive survey was conducted. Two sets of questionnaires were designed, one for nurse managers and another for nursing personnel. The total sample comprised one hundred and fifty five (155) nursing personnel and one hundred and nine (109) nurse managers.
Many factors were identified as causing strikes, but the majority of respondents identified dissatisfaction with salaries and unsatisfactory working conditions as the main causes of strikes.
The study revealed that both nurse managers and nursing personnel were divide in their opinions on the nurses* right to strike. However the undesirability of nurses* striking was indicated since very few benefits of strike action were identified while numerous adverse consequences were highlighted. These views are supportede by literature which makes reference to contradictory views of various authors on strikes.
Two out of the four(4) hospitals from which data was collected had experienced nurses' strikes in the early 1990's. The findings revealed that many nurses participated in the strikes unwillingly. Patient suffering in spite of contingency plans for patient care was expressed as a concern by many respondents.
Recmmendations made highlighted the need for participation of both providers and consumers of nursing care in minimising or preventing nurses' strikes.
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Submitted in fulfillment of the requirements fro the degree M.A. Curationis in Nursing Science Department at the University of Zululand, South Africa, 1995.
Keywords
Strikes and lockouts--Nursing--Natal (South Africa), Nurse administrators--Natal (South Africa)