Towards an ethics of interpretation: The use of scripture in three recent Christian documents

Three documents have recently appeared which all appeal to Scripture in their elaboration of a vision for the church’s involvement in society. This paper assesses the manner in which the Bible functions within the broader interpretative stance of each document, namely Church and Society, Road to Damascus and Relevant Pentecostal Witness. In order to achieve this, attention is first paid to the establishment of criteria which should form part of a common explanatory commitment to which all position papers should adhere. It is argued that the ideological stance of both the interpreter and Scripture should be acknowledged, so that the relative merits of the various documents can be intersubjectively tested.

Post-basic nursing students' perceptions of the emigration of nurses from the Republic of South Africa: research

The emigration of nurses from South Africa to work in overseas countries continues to increase despite efforts to curb this phenomenon. This exploratory descriptive survey attempted to identify nurses' perceptions of their colleagues who have emigrated as well as their own intentions to emigrate should the opportunity arise. Selfcompletion questionnaires were posted to all students registered for under- and postgraduate studies at a distance education institution. The analysis of the data obtained from 453 completed questionnaires indicated that almost all respondents knew nurses who had emigrated, and that approximately 60% of the respondents would emigrate if the opportunity should arise. The major deterrent to their emigration was family ties which kept them in South Africa. The major reasons why they would emigrate related to better remuneration and to the ability to save money quickly for specific reasons. Besides improved remuneration and fringe benefits, employers could help nurses to remain in the Republic of South Africa (RSA) by showing appreciation for their work, by improving facilities and resources and by appointing competent health managers. The South African government could help nurses to remain within the RSA by appointing people in the frozen posts, eliminating corruption within the government and by improving safety and security in the country. Almost all respondents indicated that the government had no right to prevent South African nurses from emigrating to other countries. Die emigrasie van Suid-Afrikaanse verpleegkundiges om in oorsese lande te werk neem toe ten spyte van pogings om die verskynsel te bekamp. 'n Verkennende, beskrywende opname is gedoen ten einde verpleegkundiges se persepsies te verken oor kollegas wat ge?migreer het asook hulle eie voornemens om te emigreer indien die geleentheid sou voorkom. Vraelyste wat die studente self moes voltooi is aan alle studente gepos wat vir voor- of nagraadse studies by 'n afstandsonderriginstelling geregistreer was. Die ontleding van die data wat verkry is vanaf die 453 voltooide vraelyste het aangedui dat bykans alle respondente verpleegkundiges geken het wat reeds ge?migreer het, en dat ongeveer 60% van die respondente sou emigreer indien hulle so 'n geleentheid sou kry. Die belangrikste faktor wat hulle emigrasie teengewerk het was familiebande wat hulle in Suid-Afrika gehou het. Die hoofredes waarom hulle sou emigreer het verband gehou met beter besoldiging en met die vermo? om vinnig geld te spaar vir spesifieke doeleindes. Benewens verbeterde besoldiging en byvoordele kan werkgewers verpleegkundiges help om in RSA te bly deur waardering te toon vir hul werk, deur fasiliteite en bronne te verbeter en deur bevoegde gesondheidsorgbestuurders aan te stel. Die Suid-Afrikaanse regering kan verpleegkundiges help om in die RSA aan te bly deur mense in bevrore poste aan te stel, korrupsie binne die regering uit te roei en die veiligheid en sekuriteit in die land te verbeter. Bykans alle respondente het aangetoon dat die regering nie oor die reg beskik om Suid-Afrikaanse verpleegkundiges te verbied om na ander lande te emigreer nie. Keywords: Emigration of South African nurses, Migration of nurses, Nursing shortage in the RSA (Health SA Gesondheid: interdisciplinary research journal: 2003 8(4): 38-55

Recurrent LDL-receptor mutation causes familial hypercholesterolaemia in South African coloureds and Afrikaners

No Abstract

The use of DNA markers in the pre-clinical diagnosis of familial adenomatous polyposis in families in South Africa

No Abstract

Supporting students in professional socialisation: Guidelines for professional nurses and educators

Professional socialisation of nursing students involves learning skills, attitudes, behaviour and professional roles, largely in the clinical area. During clinical accompaniment and reflective discussions with a group of undergraduate Baccalaureate nursing students in South Africa, students reported negative professional socialisation experiences, primarily in the clinical area. Such experiences could influence the quality of patient care. The objective of this study was to develop and validate guidelines to support professional nurses and educators in the professional socialisation of student nurses. Evidence was generated from an exploration and description of the perceptions of professional nurses regarding their role in the professional socialisation of students, the perceptions of nurse educators regarding the teaching and facilitation of professional socialisation of students, and the socialisation experiences of students. Following a sequential mixed-methods design, qualitative data guided the collection of quantitative data. All data and literature directed the development of these guidelines, which experts reviewed and validated according to a set of criteria. These guidelines focus on the clinical, nursing educational institution environment and values and beliefs of the nursing profession. Facilitation of sound work ethics, professional behaviour, cultural and gender awareness, role modelling and the application of a range of teaching strategies is proposed

A novel deletion at codon 441 of the APC gene associated with ophthalmic lesions (CHRPE) in a South African family

A novel mutation at codon 441 in exon 10 of the adenomatous polyposis coli (APC) gene was identified in a South African family of mixed ancestry, using a convenient, non-radioactive, heteroduplex-SSCP screening assay. This single thymidine deletion after nucleotide position 1322 creates a frameshift resulting in a downstream stop codon at amino acid residue 453 of the APC gene. Genotypes of nine family members were subsequently correlated with the presence or absence of congenital hypertrophy of the retinal pigment epithelium (CHRPE), since expression of this common extracolonic manifestation of FAP is largely determined by the length of the truncated protein. CHRPE was absent in the five unaffected family members analysed, while four mutation positive subjects showed these ophthalmic lesions. Correlation between the molecular analysis and ophthalmic examinations, performed without knowledge of clinical and genetic status respectively, provided additional evidence in favour of the view that the range of phenotypic expression in FAP may result from different allelic manifestations of APC mutations.Articl

Haplotype associations of three DNA polymorphisms at the human low density lipoprotein receptor gene locus in familial hypercholesterolaemia

The frequency and inheritance of three restriction fragment length polymorphisms (RFLPs) of the low density lipoprotein (LDL) receptor gene were investigated in 27 South African families with familial hypercholesterolaemia. Four haplotypes, defined by the enzymes PvuII, StuI, and NcoI, were found to segregate in this population. The frequency of the rare allele detected by NcoI was found to be 0.53 in 45 unrelated familial hypercholesterolaemic (FH) patients compared to 0.33 in 60 normal controls (p<0.005). In 71% of the families studied, a haplotype with common alleles for PvuII and StuI and the rare allele for NcoI cosegregated with the defective gene. In 20% of the families, a second haplotype with rare alleles for PvuII and StuI and common allele for NcoI segregated with FH. In these families the haplotypes unambiguously cosegregate with the disease and can therefore be used for early diagnosis of FH.Articl