Work integrated learning experiences of primary health care post basic nursing students in clinical settings, a University of Technology context

This article explores and describes primary health care post-basic nursing students’ experience during clinical placements so as to address the challenges that are faced within the clinical settings. Work Integrated Learning (WIL), like in any other nursing course, is essential in primary health care education as required by the South African Nursing Council. In the clinical setting, students develop clinical skills which they will need as qualified primary health care practitioners. This is achieved through instruction and guidance by lecturers, mentors and clinical staff. However, the clinical learning environment can confront students with many challenges. During a qualitative study, purposive sampling selected nine students registered for Clinical Nursing Science, Health Assessment, Treatment and Care in an university. Students were placed in the clinical settings of Health Districts A and B in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. In-depth interviews were conducted and five themes emerged during data analysis. The themes related to shortage of staff, inadequate material/ non-human resources, lack of supervision in the clinical facilities, distant clinical facilities and insufficient practice in the clinical skills laboratory are the challenges that students experience while engaged in their WIL placement

Experiences of Critical Care Nurses of Death and Dying in an Intensive Care Unit: A Phenomenological Study

Abstract Background: Working in the intensive care unit can be traumatic for nursing personnel. Critical care nurses are faced with repeated exposure to death and dying as they are involved in caring for patients who are actively dying, have a terminal illness or face impending death. These nurses relate in different ways to the phenomena of death and dying within their nursing profession and their scope of practice. Critical care nurses often have a difficult time coping with the stress that comes with caring for those who are dying or relating to loved ones of those that are dying

Registered nurses’ perception of the cervical Screening Program in Primary Health Care Clinics in the KwaZulu-Natal Province of South Africa

Cervical cancer is a significant problem in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. However, the implementation of the provincial cervical screening programme has been slow. Registered nurses need to be knowledgeable about the disease and comply with the screening programme. The purpose of this study was to determine the perceptions of registered nurses in the public sector primary health care clinics in KwaZulu-Natal, regarding the cervical screening programme, problems experienced and their compliance with the criteria for selecting clients for screening. An exploratory, descriptive and qualitative design was used. The sample consisted of all consenting registered nurses from the selected clinics (n = 21), who participated in focus group discussions. Data were analysed using thematic content analysis. Although appreciative of the screening programme, the nurses disagreed with the starting age of 30 and 10 year intervals for Pap smears, believing that younger women are at risk due to HIV and AIDS and sexually transmitted infections. Further education of registered nurses should ensure that they understand the natural course of the disease and the rationale for the guideline policy

An assessment of the implementation of the provincial cervical screening programme in selected Primary Health Care Clinics in the Ilembe Region, KwaZulu-Natal

Cervical cancer is almost completely preventable, yet it is the second most prevalent cancer amongst women in South Africa. KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) in particular has a high mortality rate of cervical cancer and 1: 40 women die from cancer of the cervix. Therefore, in 1997 a cervical screening policy and programme was implemented in the province. The purpose of the study was to evaluate the implementation of selected aspects of the Provincial cervical screening programme in selected Primary Health Care (PHC) clinics in Ilembe Region, KZN. Results indicated that there was a lack of resources needed for implementing the programme in rural clinics compared to urban clinics. However, all clinics in the study had an adequate supply of the drugs needed for the treatment of abnormal smears. On reviewing the records, the researcher noted that most of the results indicated that smears had adequate cells needed for analysis. However, the results indicated that there was a problem with follow-up of clients with abnormal smears. Feedback to the clinics from the referral hospital regarding the outcome of the visit was inadequate. The results indicated that the mechanisms of record keeping were inadequate. Therefore, the above results indicate that problems exist at the selected PHC clinics that may result in ineffective implementation of the cervical screening programme

Registered nurses’ perception of the cervical Screening Program in Primary Health Care Clinics in the KwaZulu-Natal Province of South Africa

Cervical cancer is a significant problem in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. However, the implementation of the provincial cervical screening programme has been slow. Registered nurses need to be knowledgeable about the disease and comply with the screening programme. The purpose of this study was to determine the perceptions of registered nurses in the public sector primary health care clinics in KwaZulu-Natal, regarding the cervical screening programme, problems experienced and their compliance with the criteria for selecting clients for screening. An exploratory, descriptive and qualitative design was used. The sample consisted of all consenting registered nurses from the selected clinics (n = 21), who participated in focus group discussions. Data were analysed using thematic content analysis. Although appreciative of the screening programme, the nurses disagreed with the starting age of 30 and 10 year intervals for Pap smears, believing that younger women are at risk due to HIV and AIDS and sexually transmitted infections. Further education of registered nurses should ensure that they understand the natural course of the disease and the rationale for the guideline policy

An assessment of the implementation of the provincial cervical screening programme in selected Primary Health Care Clinics in the Ilembe Region, KwaZulu-Natal

Cervical cancer is almost completely preventable, yet it is the second most prevalent cancer amongst women in South Africa. KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) in particular has a high mortality rate of cervical cancer and 1: 40 women die from cancer of the cervix. Therefore, in 1997 a cervical screening policy and programme was implemented in the province. The purpose of the study was to evaluate the implementation of selected aspects of the Provincial cervical screening programme in selected Primary Health Care (PHC) clinics in Ilembe Region, KZN. Results indicated that there was a lack of resources needed for implementing the programme in rural clinics compared to urban clinics. However, all clinics in the study had an adequate supply of the drugs needed for the treatment of abnormal smears. On reviewing the records, the researcher noted that most of the results indicated that smears had adequate cells needed for analysis. However, the results indicated that there was a problem with follow-up of clients with abnormal smears. Feedback to the clinics from the referral hospital regarding the outcome of the visit was inadequate. The results indicated that the mechanisms of record keeping were inadequate. Therefore, the above results indicate that problems exist at the selected PHC clinics that may result in ineffective implementation of the cervical screening programme

Experiences of people living with epilepsy presenting for treatment at Umlazi clinic in eThekwini District, South Africa N.Y.

Epilepsy is one of the world’s most common neurological disorders. It is a condition that affects individuals in most countries worldwide. There is stigma attached to epilepsy, and the condition is often misunderstood. However, there are people who understand the condition and the care that people with epilepsy need. The aim of the study was to describe the lived experiences of people with epilepsy. A descriptive phenomenological methodology was used. In-depth interviews were conducted with eight participants. The main research question was: What are the experiences of people living with epilepsy? Giorgi’s model of data analysis was used as a guideline to identify themes. The findings of this study revealed that people with epilepsy still face challenges unique to their lifestyles. There are psycho-social and physical challenges that people with epilepsy experience. Failure to address these needs has enhanced the negative labeling of PWE.Keywords: Epilepsy, lived experiences, primary health care