Petra Brysiewicz | University of KwaZulu-Natal (original) (raw)
Papers by Petra Brysiewicz
International Emergency Nursing, 2019
African Journal of Emergency Medicine, 2013
In order to provide some guidance for the researcher unfamiliar with qualitative research, this a... more In order to provide some guidance for the researcher unfamiliar with qualitative research, this article compares quantitative and qualitative research, and introduces a number of qualitative methods. Aspects of methodological rigor are also presented as well as an example of qualitative data analysis using content analysis. Qualitative research methods explore, in a holistic fashion, the complex reality constructed by individuals in the context of their everyday worlds. Qualitative research is based on the subjective, looking at human realities instead of concrete realities of objects. When conducting a qualitative study the researcher is part of the study and is, in fact, the research instrument. The qualitative researcher embraces the ontological assumption of multiple truths, multiple realities, i.e., persons understand reality in different ways that reflect individual perspectives.
Curationis, 2021
ABBREVIATIONS v TABLE OF CONTENTS vi LIST OF TABLES xi LIST OF FIGURES xii LIST OF APPENDICES xii... more ABBREVIATIONS v TABLE OF CONTENTS vi LIST OF TABLES xi LIST OF FIGURES xii LIST OF APPENDICES xiii CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION TO THE STUDY 1.1 INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND TO THE STUDY variables 5.4.4 Relationship between participation, VAS results and demographic variables 5.5 CONCLUSION CHAPTER SIX: SUMMARY, LIMITATIONS, RECOMMENDATIONS AND CONCLUSION 6.1. INTRODUCTION 6.2 SUMMARY OF THE RESULTS x 6.2.1 What is the level of capacity experienced by the women during childbirth? 6.2.2 What is the level of professional care and support experienced by the women during childbirth? 6.2.3 What is the level of safety experienced by the women during childbirth? 6.2.4 What degree of control, involvement and participation in the labour and birth management process experienced by the women during childbirth? 6.3 LIMITATIONS 6.4 RECOMMENDATIONS 6.4.1 Nursing practice 6.4.2 Nursing education 6.4.3 Nursing management 6.4.4 Nursing research 6.5 CONCLUSION REFERENCES xi LIST OF TABLES Page 3.1 Content validity 4.1 Midwifery related demographic variables 4.2 Own capacity 4.3 Midwife support during labour and birth 4.4 Perceived safety 4.5 Participation 4.6 Relationship between own capacity and demographic variables 4.7 Relationship between professional support and demographic variables 4.8 Relationship between perceived safety and demographic variables 4.9 Relationship between participation and demographic variables 4.10 Relationship between VAS results and demographic variables xii LIST OF FIGURES Page 2. 1 The stress and coping perspective of the Social Support Theory 21 2. 2 The social constructionist perspective of the Social Support Theory 22 2. 3 Social relationship perspective of the Social Support Theory 22 4.1 Age group of respondents 37 4.2 Level of education 37 4.3 VAS results
This paper outlines the findings of a research project intended to facilitate the learning of hea... more This paper outlines the findings of a research project intended to facilitate the learning of health professionals across work-based and formal learning contexts by means of mobile technology. The focus of the educational approach was on the use of digital mobile media, and particularly mobile networking technologies to support social learning practices of professionals, i.e., nurses, in marginalized settings in rural South Africa.
BMC Medical Education, 2020
Background The rapid progression of diseases and the complex, changing landscape of healthcare ha... more Background The rapid progression of diseases and the complex, changing landscape of healthcare has increased the awareness that interprofessional collaboration is essential in ensuring safe and effective healthcare delivery. However, to develop a “collaborative practice-ready” workforce, organisations need to invest in the application of alternative approaches to the training of healthcare professionals. Purpose of the study To describe the perceptions of healthcare professionals attending an HIV interprofessional collaborative initiative at a non-governmental organization research site in South Africa and to provide suggestions regarding the improvement of this educational programme. Methods Focus group discussions (December 2018 to January 2019), were conducted on a purposeful sample (N = 21) consisting of healthcare professionals (clinicians, pharmacists, pharmacy assistants, and nurses), and clinical trial staff (recruiters, administrators, QC officers, psychologists, counsellor...
African Journal of Emergency Medicine, 2020
Measuring patients' experience in the emergency department can be an avenue through which the pat... more Measuring patients' experience in the emergency department can be an avenue through which the patients are able to evaluate their own care experience, and this may provide guidance for healthcare professionals in addressing quality improvement. This scoping review aimed to identify and examine existing tools that measure patients' experience in the emergency department. Methods: A scoping review was carried out to synthesize evidence from a range of studies in order to describe the characteristics of each study and their sample, and to describe the tools used to measure patients' experience in the emergency department. Results: Out of the 308 articles retrieved, results of the first and second level screening yielded 10 articles for inclusion using 9 different experience tools/questionnaire in the emergency department. Conclusion: Measuring patients' experience in the emergency department is a global concern, however research conducted in low-to-middle-income countries is very limited and such research in Africa appears to be absent. Getting consumers of care to evaluate their experience may help healthcare professionals to identify discrepancies in care and plan possible strategies to address them. African relevance • Measuring patients' experience in the ED is a global concern, however there appears to be a limited number of tools available, and such research in Africa appears to be absent. • This article provides details of specific tools available in the literature for measuring patients' experience in the emergency department, which could be useful for African EDs • Getting consumers of care to evaluate their experience may help healthcare professionals to identify discrepancies in care and plan possible strategies to address them.
International Emergency Nursing, 2020
Nurses responding to the world health organization (WHO) priority for emergency care systems for ... more Nurses responding to the world health organization (WHO) priority for emergency care systems for universal health coverage, International Emergency Nursing (2020), doi:
Curationis, 2019
Background: The need to use innovative teaching and learning strategies in the nursing pedagogy i... more Background: The need to use innovative teaching and learning strategies in the nursing pedagogy is important in the 21st century. The challenges of clinical sites and opportunities for nursing students to gain clinical experience are a growing concern for many nurse educators. High-fidelity human patient simulators (HFHPS) are computerised mannequins that replicate a real-life patient, and when integrated into classroom teaching they allow students to become fully immersed into an almost real-life scenario.Objectives: The aim of this study was to describe how HFHPS can promote experiential learning following the management of postpartum haemorrhage as a midwifery clinical emergency.Method: A descriptive qualitative research approach was carried out in this study. The research setting was a local university in KwaZulu-Natal. The total population included all (N = 43) fourth-year baccalaureate of nursing undergraduate student midwives who participated as observers and/or role-players ...
International Journal of Africa Nursing Sciences, 2018
Prolonged and continual contact with grief and recurrent deaths, observing patients undergoing un... more Prolonged and continual contact with grief and recurrent deaths, observing patients undergoing unrelenting medication therapies which could prove unsuccessful, and a constant atmosphere of hopelessness put the oncology nurse at high risk of developing compassion fatigue and burnout. This study conducted a survey of compassion satisfaction, burnout and compassion fatigue in nurses practicing in three oncology departments in Durban, South Africa. Method: A quantitative non-experimental descriptive survey using purposive sampling. Results: Results revealed that 55% (n = 83) of participants had high compassion satisfaction, 61% (n = 83) had average burnout and 75% (n = 83) had average compassion fatigue. Only three participants scored high risk for compassion fatigue. Conclusions: The results from this study are in contrast to previous international and national studies where compassion fatigue and burnout were reported at high-risk levels. This study revealed average to high levels of compassion satisfaction.
African Journal of Emergency Medicine, 2018
Introduction: Emergency nurses are usually the first to interact with critically ill patients and... more Introduction: Emergency nurses are usually the first to interact with critically ill patients and victims of violence and injuries, and require advanced skills and knowledge to manage such patients. Inadequate training prevents nurses from providing optimal emergency care, and it is important to investigate if there are any skills and competencies lacking in these emergency nurses. We sought to describe the self-perceived educational needs of emergency nurses in Durban, South Africa. Methods: A descriptive quantitative survey was conducted with nurses working in four emergency centres (two state, and two privately funded hospitals) in Durban, South Africa. Results: The survey questionnaire was distributed with a response rate of 79% (n = 128). Almost half the respondents (48%, n = 61) scored less than the mean score of 29, thus indicating lower competency levels. The majority of respondents (67%, n = 85) perceived themselves as highly competent in basic skills (e.g. assess breathing, administer oxygen, assess circulation). Less than half the respondents (45%, n = 57) perceived themselves as highly competent in the intermediate skills (e.g. control haemorrhage, assist with endotracheal intubation, manage shock). A large number of respondents (46%, n = 59) perceived themselves as least competent in advanced skills (e.g. defibrillation/cardioversion, interpreting an echocardiogram [ECG]). The mean score obtained for educational need was 100, thus reflecting a high educational need, and more than half the respondents (62%, n = 79) scored higher than the mean score of 100 for educational needs. The lowest score was 41. Thirty percent (n = 38) of the respondents scored 117, indicating educational needs for all the competencies listed. Overall, 72% (n = 92) agreed that emergency education was a need. Discussion: The study emphasises the need for support systems for educational development of emergency nurses. Further training in specific skills and competencies may enhance emergency care provided. There is a growing need for ongoing educational development of emergency nurses in South Africa. African Relevance • Emergency nurses are usually the first to interact with critically ill or injured patients. • Emergency nurses require advanced skills and extensive clinical knowledge to be able to manage these patients. • There is a great need for ongoing educational development of emergency nurses in South Africa.
Health SA Gesondheid, 2017
Background: The training of undergraduate midwifery students to identify and manage post-partum h... more Background: The training of undergraduate midwifery students to identify and manage post-partum haemorrhage, is an essential skill in midwifery. Aim: The aim of this study was to develop, implement and evaluate a simulation learning package (SLP) on post-partum haemorrhage for undergraduate midwifery students using high fidelity simulation without risks to real-life patients. Methods: An exploratory sequential mixed methodology was used in this study. The study was made up of three phases namely; the development, implementation and evaluation of the learning package. The research participants were fourth year baccalaureate of nursing midwifery students and midwifery experts involved in teaching midwifery. Data was collected using an evaluation checklist for experts, a student satisfaction survey and focus group sessions. Quantitative data were analysed using SPSS Version 23.0 and the qualitative data was analysed using content analysis as described by Graneheim and Lundman (2004). Results: The evaluation checklist for experts revealed that the developed SLP was considered suitable for undergraduate students. It encouraged active learning, teamwork and accommodated diverse learning styles. The package was easy to use and offered opportunities for student feedback. The student satisfaction survey revealed that the pre-simulation support received was adequate and helpful, and the post simulation outcomes showed that using high fidelity simulation improved clinical skills, knowledge, critical thinking, self-confidence and satisfaction. The focus group sessions revealed that the SLP was an innovative and interactive method of learning; it improved the student's perception of their clinical competence, stimulated critical thinking and increased self-confidence. * Research significance: To develop a simulation learning package that uses high fidelity simulation to teach undergraduate midwifery students how to manage post-partum haemorrhage.
Technology, Pedagogy and Education, 2017
This study analyses the use of a group space on the social networking site Facebook as a way to f... more This study analyses the use of a group space on the social networking site Facebook as a way to facilitate research supervision for teams of learners. Borrowing Lee's framework for research supervision, the goal was to understand how supervision and learning was achieved in, and shaped by, the properties of a social networking space. For this purpose, the discourse between supervisor and learners was analysed along with the structural properties afforded by the space. Using the empirical findings and further literature, a conceptual framework was developed that illustrates the ways in which functional supervision, enculturation, emancipation, critical thinking and relationship development are achieved and formed by the interplay of the technological, functional, multimodal and the wider sociocultural, political and sociolinguistic structures associated with social media space. Literature review Research supervision Pearson and Brew (2002) argued that, along with the increasing importance of research to facilitate innovation and economic development, research education has taken a more prominent position for ARTICLE HISTORY
International emergency nursing, Jan 13, 2017
Chinese journal of traumatology = Zhonghua chuang shang za zhi, Jan 5, 2017
Recording vital signs is important in the hospital setting and the quality of this documentation ... more Recording vital signs is important in the hospital setting and the quality of this documentation influences clinical decision making. The Modified Early Warning Score (MEWS) uses vital signs to categorise the severity of a patient's physiological derangement and illustrates the clinical impact of vital signs in detecting patient deterioration and making management decisions. This descriptive study measured the quality of vital sign recordings in an acute care trauma setting, and used the MEWS to determine the impact the documentation quality had on the detection of physiological derangements and thus, clinical decision making. Vital signs recorded by the nursing staff of all trauma patients in the acute care trauma wards at a regional hospital in South Africa were collected from January 2013 to February 2013. Investigator-measured values taken within 2 hours of the routine observations and baseline patient information were also recorded. A MEWS for each patient was calculated fr...
Health SA Gesondheid, 2017
Introduction: In recent years there has been a movement to promote patients as partners in their ... more Introduction: In recent years there has been a movement to promote patients as partners in their care; however this may not always be possible as in the case of critically ill patients, who are often sedated and mechanically ventilated. This results in family members being involved in the care of the patient. To date, this type of care has been represented by three dominant theoretical conceptualizations and frameworks one of which is family centered care; however there is a lack of consensus on the definition of family centered care. Hence the objective of this study was to explore the meaning of family care within a South African context. Methodology: This study adopted a qualitative approach and a grounded theory research design by Strauss and Corbin (1990). Participants from two hospitals: one private and one public were selected to participate in the study. There was a total of 31 participants (family members, intensive care nurses and doctors) who volunteered to participate in the study. Data collection included in-depth individual interviews. Open, axial and selective coding was conducted to analyse data. Nvivo data analysis software was used to assist with the data analysis. Findings: The findings of this study revealed that family care is conceptualized as togetherness, partnership, respect and dignity. Conclusion: During a critical illness, patients' families fulfil an additional essential role for patients who may be unconscious or unable to communicate or make decisions. FMs not only provide vital support to their loved one, but also become the "voice" of the patient.
The International Review of Research in Open and Distributed Learning, 2016
This exploratory study investigates how a typically disadvantaged user group of older, female lea... more This exploratory study investigates how a typically disadvantaged user group of older, female learners from rural, low-tech settings used and perceived a Facebook group as a research supervision and distance learning tool over time. The within-stage mixed-model research was carried out in a module of a part-time, advanced midwifery education course in rural South Africa. To address the research questions, three quantitative and qualitative surveys were repeated, pre, post, and three months post evaluation. The findings indicate that using the social media space lowered learners' threshold to accessing educational resources. The increased ease of communication was afforded in particular by using mobile phones to access the space. The analysis also suggests that the social networking site became a more integral part of students' learning environments. The learners' use of the site to discuss further course and work-related issues increased during the intervention and also ...
JBI Database of Systematic Reviews and Implementation Reports, 2012
American journal of surgery, Jan 7, 2016
This study used a prospective surgical database, to investigate the level of systolic blood press... more This study used a prospective surgical database, to investigate the level of systolic blood pressure (SBP) at which the mortality rates begin to increase in septic surgical patients. All acute, septic general surgical patients older than 15 years of age admitted between January 2012 and January 2015 were included in these analyses. Of a total of 6,020 adult surgical patients on the database, 3,053 elective patients, 1,664 nonseptic, 52 duplicates, and 11 patients with missing SBP were excluded to leave a cohort of 1,232 acute, septic surgical patients. The median age (intraquartile range [IQR]): 48 (32 to 62) and roughly 50:50 sex ratio (620 female: 609 male). Most of the patients were African: 988 (80.2%) followed by Asians (128 or 10.4%). More than two-thirds (852 or 69.2%) of the patient cohort underwent some form of surgery, and 152 or 12.3% required intensive care unit (ICU) admission. The median length of ICU stay (IQR) was 2 (1 to 4.5) days. The median length of total hospita...
South African Medical Journal, 2011
Southern African Journal of Critical Care, Nov 24, 2010
Background. Critically injured trauma patients are often admitted to an intensive care unit (ICU)... more Background. Critically injured trauma patients are often admitted to an intensive care unit (ICU), which can be a very unfamiliar and intimidating environment for their families. Health organisations have a responsibility to foster an environment that protects the physical and emotional health of the severely stressed family members who assemble in their facilities. Purpose. The purpose of the research was to explore the experiences of ICU nurses in providing psychosocial support to families of critically ill trauma patients. Research approach. Using an interpretive hermeneutic phenomenological approach, two semi-structured interviews were conducted with each participant to explore their experiences of providing psychological support to families of ICU patients. The study was conducted in the surgical ICUs of two private hospitals and one public hospital in the Durban metropolitan area. Findings. Four main themes emerged from the data: cultural awareness, communication challenges, providing assistance, and lack of training. Conclusion. These findings provide implications for practice that, if applied, would improve the ICU experience for both the nursing staff and the families they support.
International Emergency Nursing, 2019
African Journal of Emergency Medicine, 2013
In order to provide some guidance for the researcher unfamiliar with qualitative research, this a... more In order to provide some guidance for the researcher unfamiliar with qualitative research, this article compares quantitative and qualitative research, and introduces a number of qualitative methods. Aspects of methodological rigor are also presented as well as an example of qualitative data analysis using content analysis. Qualitative research methods explore, in a holistic fashion, the complex reality constructed by individuals in the context of their everyday worlds. Qualitative research is based on the subjective, looking at human realities instead of concrete realities of objects. When conducting a qualitative study the researcher is part of the study and is, in fact, the research instrument. The qualitative researcher embraces the ontological assumption of multiple truths, multiple realities, i.e., persons understand reality in different ways that reflect individual perspectives.
Curationis, 2021
ABBREVIATIONS v TABLE OF CONTENTS vi LIST OF TABLES xi LIST OF FIGURES xii LIST OF APPENDICES xii... more ABBREVIATIONS v TABLE OF CONTENTS vi LIST OF TABLES xi LIST OF FIGURES xii LIST OF APPENDICES xiii CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION TO THE STUDY 1.1 INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND TO THE STUDY variables 5.4.4 Relationship between participation, VAS results and demographic variables 5.5 CONCLUSION CHAPTER SIX: SUMMARY, LIMITATIONS, RECOMMENDATIONS AND CONCLUSION 6.1. INTRODUCTION 6.2 SUMMARY OF THE RESULTS x 6.2.1 What is the level of capacity experienced by the women during childbirth? 6.2.2 What is the level of professional care and support experienced by the women during childbirth? 6.2.3 What is the level of safety experienced by the women during childbirth? 6.2.4 What degree of control, involvement and participation in the labour and birth management process experienced by the women during childbirth? 6.3 LIMITATIONS 6.4 RECOMMENDATIONS 6.4.1 Nursing practice 6.4.2 Nursing education 6.4.3 Nursing management 6.4.4 Nursing research 6.5 CONCLUSION REFERENCES xi LIST OF TABLES Page 3.1 Content validity 4.1 Midwifery related demographic variables 4.2 Own capacity 4.3 Midwife support during labour and birth 4.4 Perceived safety 4.5 Participation 4.6 Relationship between own capacity and demographic variables 4.7 Relationship between professional support and demographic variables 4.8 Relationship between perceived safety and demographic variables 4.9 Relationship between participation and demographic variables 4.10 Relationship between VAS results and demographic variables xii LIST OF FIGURES Page 2. 1 The stress and coping perspective of the Social Support Theory 21 2. 2 The social constructionist perspective of the Social Support Theory 22 2. 3 Social relationship perspective of the Social Support Theory 22 4.1 Age group of respondents 37 4.2 Level of education 37 4.3 VAS results
This paper outlines the findings of a research project intended to facilitate the learning of hea... more This paper outlines the findings of a research project intended to facilitate the learning of health professionals across work-based and formal learning contexts by means of mobile technology. The focus of the educational approach was on the use of digital mobile media, and particularly mobile networking technologies to support social learning practices of professionals, i.e., nurses, in marginalized settings in rural South Africa.
BMC Medical Education, 2020
Background The rapid progression of diseases and the complex, changing landscape of healthcare ha... more Background The rapid progression of diseases and the complex, changing landscape of healthcare has increased the awareness that interprofessional collaboration is essential in ensuring safe and effective healthcare delivery. However, to develop a “collaborative practice-ready” workforce, organisations need to invest in the application of alternative approaches to the training of healthcare professionals. Purpose of the study To describe the perceptions of healthcare professionals attending an HIV interprofessional collaborative initiative at a non-governmental organization research site in South Africa and to provide suggestions regarding the improvement of this educational programme. Methods Focus group discussions (December 2018 to January 2019), were conducted on a purposeful sample (N = 21) consisting of healthcare professionals (clinicians, pharmacists, pharmacy assistants, and nurses), and clinical trial staff (recruiters, administrators, QC officers, psychologists, counsellor...
African Journal of Emergency Medicine, 2020
Measuring patients' experience in the emergency department can be an avenue through which the pat... more Measuring patients' experience in the emergency department can be an avenue through which the patients are able to evaluate their own care experience, and this may provide guidance for healthcare professionals in addressing quality improvement. This scoping review aimed to identify and examine existing tools that measure patients' experience in the emergency department. Methods: A scoping review was carried out to synthesize evidence from a range of studies in order to describe the characteristics of each study and their sample, and to describe the tools used to measure patients' experience in the emergency department. Results: Out of the 308 articles retrieved, results of the first and second level screening yielded 10 articles for inclusion using 9 different experience tools/questionnaire in the emergency department. Conclusion: Measuring patients' experience in the emergency department is a global concern, however research conducted in low-to-middle-income countries is very limited and such research in Africa appears to be absent. Getting consumers of care to evaluate their experience may help healthcare professionals to identify discrepancies in care and plan possible strategies to address them. African relevance • Measuring patients' experience in the ED is a global concern, however there appears to be a limited number of tools available, and such research in Africa appears to be absent. • This article provides details of specific tools available in the literature for measuring patients' experience in the emergency department, which could be useful for African EDs • Getting consumers of care to evaluate their experience may help healthcare professionals to identify discrepancies in care and plan possible strategies to address them.
International Emergency Nursing, 2020
Nurses responding to the world health organization (WHO) priority for emergency care systems for ... more Nurses responding to the world health organization (WHO) priority for emergency care systems for universal health coverage, International Emergency Nursing (2020), doi:
Curationis, 2019
Background: The need to use innovative teaching and learning strategies in the nursing pedagogy i... more Background: The need to use innovative teaching and learning strategies in the nursing pedagogy is important in the 21st century. The challenges of clinical sites and opportunities for nursing students to gain clinical experience are a growing concern for many nurse educators. High-fidelity human patient simulators (HFHPS) are computerised mannequins that replicate a real-life patient, and when integrated into classroom teaching they allow students to become fully immersed into an almost real-life scenario.Objectives: The aim of this study was to describe how HFHPS can promote experiential learning following the management of postpartum haemorrhage as a midwifery clinical emergency.Method: A descriptive qualitative research approach was carried out in this study. The research setting was a local university in KwaZulu-Natal. The total population included all (N = 43) fourth-year baccalaureate of nursing undergraduate student midwives who participated as observers and/or role-players ...
International Journal of Africa Nursing Sciences, 2018
Prolonged and continual contact with grief and recurrent deaths, observing patients undergoing un... more Prolonged and continual contact with grief and recurrent deaths, observing patients undergoing unrelenting medication therapies which could prove unsuccessful, and a constant atmosphere of hopelessness put the oncology nurse at high risk of developing compassion fatigue and burnout. This study conducted a survey of compassion satisfaction, burnout and compassion fatigue in nurses practicing in three oncology departments in Durban, South Africa. Method: A quantitative non-experimental descriptive survey using purposive sampling. Results: Results revealed that 55% (n = 83) of participants had high compassion satisfaction, 61% (n = 83) had average burnout and 75% (n = 83) had average compassion fatigue. Only three participants scored high risk for compassion fatigue. Conclusions: The results from this study are in contrast to previous international and national studies where compassion fatigue and burnout were reported at high-risk levels. This study revealed average to high levels of compassion satisfaction.
African Journal of Emergency Medicine, 2018
Introduction: Emergency nurses are usually the first to interact with critically ill patients and... more Introduction: Emergency nurses are usually the first to interact with critically ill patients and victims of violence and injuries, and require advanced skills and knowledge to manage such patients. Inadequate training prevents nurses from providing optimal emergency care, and it is important to investigate if there are any skills and competencies lacking in these emergency nurses. We sought to describe the self-perceived educational needs of emergency nurses in Durban, South Africa. Methods: A descriptive quantitative survey was conducted with nurses working in four emergency centres (two state, and two privately funded hospitals) in Durban, South Africa. Results: The survey questionnaire was distributed with a response rate of 79% (n = 128). Almost half the respondents (48%, n = 61) scored less than the mean score of 29, thus indicating lower competency levels. The majority of respondents (67%, n = 85) perceived themselves as highly competent in basic skills (e.g. assess breathing, administer oxygen, assess circulation). Less than half the respondents (45%, n = 57) perceived themselves as highly competent in the intermediate skills (e.g. control haemorrhage, assist with endotracheal intubation, manage shock). A large number of respondents (46%, n = 59) perceived themselves as least competent in advanced skills (e.g. defibrillation/cardioversion, interpreting an echocardiogram [ECG]). The mean score obtained for educational need was 100, thus reflecting a high educational need, and more than half the respondents (62%, n = 79) scored higher than the mean score of 100 for educational needs. The lowest score was 41. Thirty percent (n = 38) of the respondents scored 117, indicating educational needs for all the competencies listed. Overall, 72% (n = 92) agreed that emergency education was a need. Discussion: The study emphasises the need for support systems for educational development of emergency nurses. Further training in specific skills and competencies may enhance emergency care provided. There is a growing need for ongoing educational development of emergency nurses in South Africa. African Relevance • Emergency nurses are usually the first to interact with critically ill or injured patients. • Emergency nurses require advanced skills and extensive clinical knowledge to be able to manage these patients. • There is a great need for ongoing educational development of emergency nurses in South Africa.
Health SA Gesondheid, 2017
Background: The training of undergraduate midwifery students to identify and manage post-partum h... more Background: The training of undergraduate midwifery students to identify and manage post-partum haemorrhage, is an essential skill in midwifery. Aim: The aim of this study was to develop, implement and evaluate a simulation learning package (SLP) on post-partum haemorrhage for undergraduate midwifery students using high fidelity simulation without risks to real-life patients. Methods: An exploratory sequential mixed methodology was used in this study. The study was made up of three phases namely; the development, implementation and evaluation of the learning package. The research participants were fourth year baccalaureate of nursing midwifery students and midwifery experts involved in teaching midwifery. Data was collected using an evaluation checklist for experts, a student satisfaction survey and focus group sessions. Quantitative data were analysed using SPSS Version 23.0 and the qualitative data was analysed using content analysis as described by Graneheim and Lundman (2004). Results: The evaluation checklist for experts revealed that the developed SLP was considered suitable for undergraduate students. It encouraged active learning, teamwork and accommodated diverse learning styles. The package was easy to use and offered opportunities for student feedback. The student satisfaction survey revealed that the pre-simulation support received was adequate and helpful, and the post simulation outcomes showed that using high fidelity simulation improved clinical skills, knowledge, critical thinking, self-confidence and satisfaction. The focus group sessions revealed that the SLP was an innovative and interactive method of learning; it improved the student's perception of their clinical competence, stimulated critical thinking and increased self-confidence. * Research significance: To develop a simulation learning package that uses high fidelity simulation to teach undergraduate midwifery students how to manage post-partum haemorrhage.
Technology, Pedagogy and Education, 2017
This study analyses the use of a group space on the social networking site Facebook as a way to f... more This study analyses the use of a group space on the social networking site Facebook as a way to facilitate research supervision for teams of learners. Borrowing Lee's framework for research supervision, the goal was to understand how supervision and learning was achieved in, and shaped by, the properties of a social networking space. For this purpose, the discourse between supervisor and learners was analysed along with the structural properties afforded by the space. Using the empirical findings and further literature, a conceptual framework was developed that illustrates the ways in which functional supervision, enculturation, emancipation, critical thinking and relationship development are achieved and formed by the interplay of the technological, functional, multimodal and the wider sociocultural, political and sociolinguistic structures associated with social media space. Literature review Research supervision Pearson and Brew (2002) argued that, along with the increasing importance of research to facilitate innovation and economic development, research education has taken a more prominent position for ARTICLE HISTORY
International emergency nursing, Jan 13, 2017
Chinese journal of traumatology = Zhonghua chuang shang za zhi, Jan 5, 2017
Recording vital signs is important in the hospital setting and the quality of this documentation ... more Recording vital signs is important in the hospital setting and the quality of this documentation influences clinical decision making. The Modified Early Warning Score (MEWS) uses vital signs to categorise the severity of a patient's physiological derangement and illustrates the clinical impact of vital signs in detecting patient deterioration and making management decisions. This descriptive study measured the quality of vital sign recordings in an acute care trauma setting, and used the MEWS to determine the impact the documentation quality had on the detection of physiological derangements and thus, clinical decision making. Vital signs recorded by the nursing staff of all trauma patients in the acute care trauma wards at a regional hospital in South Africa were collected from January 2013 to February 2013. Investigator-measured values taken within 2 hours of the routine observations and baseline patient information were also recorded. A MEWS for each patient was calculated fr...
Health SA Gesondheid, 2017
Introduction: In recent years there has been a movement to promote patients as partners in their ... more Introduction: In recent years there has been a movement to promote patients as partners in their care; however this may not always be possible as in the case of critically ill patients, who are often sedated and mechanically ventilated. This results in family members being involved in the care of the patient. To date, this type of care has been represented by three dominant theoretical conceptualizations and frameworks one of which is family centered care; however there is a lack of consensus on the definition of family centered care. Hence the objective of this study was to explore the meaning of family care within a South African context. Methodology: This study adopted a qualitative approach and a grounded theory research design by Strauss and Corbin (1990). Participants from two hospitals: one private and one public were selected to participate in the study. There was a total of 31 participants (family members, intensive care nurses and doctors) who volunteered to participate in the study. Data collection included in-depth individual interviews. Open, axial and selective coding was conducted to analyse data. Nvivo data analysis software was used to assist with the data analysis. Findings: The findings of this study revealed that family care is conceptualized as togetherness, partnership, respect and dignity. Conclusion: During a critical illness, patients' families fulfil an additional essential role for patients who may be unconscious or unable to communicate or make decisions. FMs not only provide vital support to their loved one, but also become the "voice" of the patient.
The International Review of Research in Open and Distributed Learning, 2016
This exploratory study investigates how a typically disadvantaged user group of older, female lea... more This exploratory study investigates how a typically disadvantaged user group of older, female learners from rural, low-tech settings used and perceived a Facebook group as a research supervision and distance learning tool over time. The within-stage mixed-model research was carried out in a module of a part-time, advanced midwifery education course in rural South Africa. To address the research questions, three quantitative and qualitative surveys were repeated, pre, post, and three months post evaluation. The findings indicate that using the social media space lowered learners' threshold to accessing educational resources. The increased ease of communication was afforded in particular by using mobile phones to access the space. The analysis also suggests that the social networking site became a more integral part of students' learning environments. The learners' use of the site to discuss further course and work-related issues increased during the intervention and also ...
JBI Database of Systematic Reviews and Implementation Reports, 2012
American journal of surgery, Jan 7, 2016
This study used a prospective surgical database, to investigate the level of systolic blood press... more This study used a prospective surgical database, to investigate the level of systolic blood pressure (SBP) at which the mortality rates begin to increase in septic surgical patients. All acute, septic general surgical patients older than 15 years of age admitted between January 2012 and January 2015 were included in these analyses. Of a total of 6,020 adult surgical patients on the database, 3,053 elective patients, 1,664 nonseptic, 52 duplicates, and 11 patients with missing SBP were excluded to leave a cohort of 1,232 acute, septic surgical patients. The median age (intraquartile range [IQR]): 48 (32 to 62) and roughly 50:50 sex ratio (620 female: 609 male). Most of the patients were African: 988 (80.2%) followed by Asians (128 or 10.4%). More than two-thirds (852 or 69.2%) of the patient cohort underwent some form of surgery, and 152 or 12.3% required intensive care unit (ICU) admission. The median length of ICU stay (IQR) was 2 (1 to 4.5) days. The median length of total hospita...
South African Medical Journal, 2011
Southern African Journal of Critical Care, Nov 24, 2010
Background. Critically injured trauma patients are often admitted to an intensive care unit (ICU)... more Background. Critically injured trauma patients are often admitted to an intensive care unit (ICU), which can be a very unfamiliar and intimidating environment for their families. Health organisations have a responsibility to foster an environment that protects the physical and emotional health of the severely stressed family members who assemble in their facilities. Purpose. The purpose of the research was to explore the experiences of ICU nurses in providing psychosocial support to families of critically ill trauma patients. Research approach. Using an interpretive hermeneutic phenomenological approach, two semi-structured interviews were conducted with each participant to explore their experiences of providing psychological support to families of ICU patients. The study was conducted in the surgical ICUs of two private hospitals and one public hospital in the Durban metropolitan area. Findings. Four main themes emerged from the data: cultural awareness, communication challenges, providing assistance, and lack of training. Conclusion. These findings provide implications for practice that, if applied, would improve the ICU experience for both the nursing staff and the families they support.