Browsing by Author "Linda, N."

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    Clinical supervisors’ experience of supervising nursing students from a higher education institution in the Western Cape
    (University of the Western Cape, 2016) Magerman, Janine; Martin, P.; Linda, N.
    Nursing students’ clinical abilities are highly dependent on the quality of the clinical experience obtained, while placed in the clinical environment. The clinical environment has key role players, which include the clinical supervisor. The primary role of the clinical supervisor is to guide nursing students to become best practice nursing professionals. However, globally, literature alludes to the failure of educating institutions to deliver competent nursing professionals, to meet the needs of patients and deliver quality patient care. Anecdotal evidence at the participating university indicated the possibility that various factors such as high student supervisor ratio and increased workload for clinical supervisors may impact on the ability of the supervisors to function effectively in the clinical settings. At the participating university, this may have been due to various factors, such as large student numbers, as well as social and environmental challenges experienced by the clinical supervisors. The aim of this study was to explore and describe the lived experiences of clinical supervisors, who supervise nursing students at a higher education institution. The study employed a qualitative research approach, utilizing a descriptive phenomenological design. Purposive sampling was used to select eight (8) participants, who were all clinical supervisors of first and second-year nursing students at the HEI (Higher Education Institution) under study. Data was collected by means of in-depth interviews and analysed, using Tesch’s method of data analysis. The five (5) major themes identified, focused on the experiences of clinical supervisors regarding: time as a constraint to job productivity; the impact of the organisational culture on the fluidity of support; limited resources; interpersonal relationships as a dynamic communication process; and impact on the self. In this study, participants focused on their experience of clinical supervision as it related to time, the organisational culture, resources and the impact of the experience on the self. The researcher based on the findings concluded that clinical supervisors are generally satisfied with their jobs and they love the teaching role that they portray. They are unhappy with the circumstances, that they experiencing as challenging in which they must do their clinical supervisor job.
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    Establishing and maintaining international collaborative research teams: an autobiographical insight
    (NWU School of basic sciences, 2013) Carr, T.J.; Van der Walt, C.; Watson, F.; Linda, N.
    Despite the growing impetus for international collaborative research teams (ICRT), there are relatively few resources available to guide and support researchers through the processes of establishing and maintaining ICRTs. In particular, no articles were found that provided researchers’ firsthand accounts of being a member of such a team. Having access to such personal accounts can help both experienced and novice researchers learn more directly about what to expect, as well as the benefits, challenges, pitfalls, and success strategies for establishing and maintaining ICRTs. The authors used phenomenological autobiographical reflective journaling to capture their experiences as members of ICRTs. In this article we provide an overview of key themes that emerged from the analysis of our reflections as members of ICRTs. These themes include: benefits, challenges, and strategies for success. Our aim is to share our first-hand experiences of what it is like to establish and participate in ICRT. It is not our intention to provide readers with prescriptive guidelines on how to set up and maintain ICRTs. Every ICRT is unique and some of these ideas may or may not apply in every case. Instead, we are describing what worked for us, hoping that others may benefit from our experience. Consequently, we suggest that the focus of ICRT should be on the benefits thereof which promote and encourage interaction between disciplines, transfer of knowledge and techniques and personal and professional development.
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    Exploration of experiences of patients with the adverse-drug effects of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis treatment in a primary health care facility in the Western Cape
    (University of the Western Cape, 2017) Tinzi, Siphokuhle; Van Wyk, Brian; Linda, N.
    Multidrug resistant TB (MDR-TB) is a form of TB caused by bacteria (germs) that are resistant to the usual drugs that are used to treat "normal" TB. The duration of treatment for MDR-TB is a maximum of 22 months. People with MDR-TB are treated in specialized tertiary hospitals and in out-patient clinics in the PHC facilities. The treatment includes a six months injectable phase with a wide range of TB drugs. The adverse effects of MDR-TB drugs are among the worst side effects ever reported by patients. The aim of the current study was to explore the experiences of adverse effects of MDR-TB treatment amongst patients in a primary health care facility in the Western Cape. An explorative qualitative study design was used to explore the experiences of patient with the adverse effects of MDR-TB treatment in a primary health care facility in the Western Cape. In depth interviews were conducted with 12 MDR-TB patients. Data analysis was done by using the Tesch's method of content analysis. The study revealed that participating MDR-TB patients experienced various emotional, financial, physical and social challenges. Participants explained that the experience of being on MDR-TB treatment is emotionally draining; the pain and discomfort of the adverse effect of treatment makes a person to feel anxious and depressed. Financially they depended on social grants because they had to stop working after starting treatment. They could not function well physically because of the toxic nature of the adverse effects of treatment; which resulted in fatigue, dizziness and burning sensation on the feet and hands. They were faced with a lot of stigma from the community and even family members because of their illness. The study also revealed that in spite of the challenges and obstacles the participants were all motivated to complete their treatment and get cured. It is recommended that more support structures be made available for patients who are being treated for MDRT-TB such as; psychotherapy, social support and counselling on health education. Provision needs to be made for patients who are receiving daily injection; for it to be given in their homes. Health care providers treating MDR-TB patients need to do home visits together with MDR-TB adherence counsellors, to monitor the physical wellbeing of patients at home. This will also provide patients with the platform to discuss their health concerns in a more accommodative and relaxed environment. New drug regimen with fewer tablets and less treatment duration is needed for MDR-TB.