Nthomeni Dorah
University of Venda, South Africa
Title: Instrumental support of professional nurses caring for patients diagnosed with HIV/AIDS
Biography
Biography: Nthomeni Dorah
Abstract
Public hospitals across the country are flooded by patients diagnosed with HIV/AIDS-related illnesses. South African Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) has completely changed the medical landscape and placed a great burden on the shoulders of professional nurses. The purpose of the study is to explore and describe instrumental support of the professional nurses. Challenges faced by the professional nurses were Fatigue, ill-health, resignation and poor HIV/AIDS care to patients admitted with opportunistic infections. The study was conducted at one of the Tshwane district hospitals of Gauteng province, South Africa. Instrumental support was explored focusing more on tangible assistance provided by the hospital and hospital nurse managers. A qualitative approach with explorative, descriptive and contextual designs were employed. Purposive sampling method was used to select 25 participants who participated in individual face to face interviews. Data gathered from the participants were analysed using Tesch’s eight steps of open coding techniques. The findings of the study revealed that the hospital and nurse managers did not provide effective tangible support. It was recommended that instrumental support of professional nurses caring for patients diagnosed with HIV/AIDS related illnesses be effectively provided by the hospital and the nurse managers through the development of the model to address challenges.