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Empowerment in critical care units : exploring the experiences of new nurse graduates
Thesis (MNur)--Stellenbosch University, 2025.
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| Format: | Thesis |
| Language: | English |
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Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
2025
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| _version_ | 1867614097441292288 |
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| access_status_str | Open Access |
| author | Du Preez, Isabella Philippa |
| author2 | Van der Heever, Mariana |
| author_browse | Du Preez, Isabella Philippa Van der Heever, Mariana |
| author_facet | Van der Heever, Mariana Du Preez, Isabella Philippa |
| author_sort | Du Preez, Isabella Philippa |
| collection | Thesis |
| dc_rights_str_mv | Stellenbosch University |
| description | Thesis (MNur)--Stellenbosch University, 2025. |
| format | Thesis |
| id | oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/134606 |
| institution | Stellenbosch University (South Africa) |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2026-06-10T12:46:37.536Z |
| license_str | Other — see source repository |
| provenance_str_mv | Harvested via OAI-PMH from SUNScholar — Stellenbosch University Repository |
| publishDate | 2025 |
| publishDateRange | 2025 |
| publishDateSort | 2025 |
| publisher | Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| publisherStr | Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| record_format | dspace |
| source_str | SUNScholar — Stellenbosch University Repository |
| spelling | oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/134606 Empowerment in critical care units : exploring the experiences of new nurse graduates Du Preez, Isabella Philippa Van der Heever, Mariana Motsepe, Tshepo L. Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences. Dept. of Nursing and Midwifery. Nurses -- Training of -- South Africa Nursing students -- Education -- South Africa Nurses -- Employment -- South Africa Nurses -- Continuing education -- South Africa Critical care nursing -- South Africa UCTD Thesis (MNur)--Stellenbosch University, 2025. Du Preez, I. P. 2025.Empowerment in critical care units: exploring the experiences of new nurse graduates. Unpublished masters thesis. Stellenbosch: Stellenbosch University [online]. Available: https://scholar.sun.ac.za/items/de5ddb5e-b6f8-4797-8248-1747f6526231 ENGLISH SUMMARY: Background: In South Africa, new nurse graduates (NNGs) often enter critical care units (CCU) with limited exposure and experience, as university programmes provide only brief opportunities for student nurses to shadow in these highly specialised units. Critical care units are known for their complexity, high patient acuity, and reliance on advanced technologies that demand quick decision making and emotional resilience from nurses. The global and national shortage of critical care nurses further exacerbates the challenge, often necessitating the deployment of NNGs without experience in these units to fill staff gaps. However, inadequate orientation, mentoring and support structures can leave NNGs feeling anxious, unprepared, and lacking in confidence and competence when transitioning to the CCU environment. Research aim: The aim of the study was to explore the empowerment that NNGs experience while working in Western Cape private CCUs. Research objectives: The objectives were to do the following: • Explore the experiences of NNGs of how structures of opportunity are used to enable empowerment. • Explore the experiences of NNGs of how power structures are used to enable empowerment. Method: A descriptive qualitative design was used to gain insight into the phenomenon being studied. The participants included permanently employed NNGs (holding either a four-year or three-year diploma) working in private CCUs in the Western Cape during their first year as registered nurses, following one year of community service in the government sector. The final sample consisted of nine participants, all of whom were female and had completed their four-year undergraduate nursing degree. Ethical approval was granted by the Health Research Ethics Committee of Stellenbosch University. Participants provided written informed consent to take part in the study. Data was collected via individual online MS Teams interviews guided by a semi-structured interview framework and utilising Carl Rogers's reflective technique. Data analysis adhered to the six stages outlined by Creswell's method of data analysis. To improve trustworthiness, principles of credibility, transferability, dependability, confirmability and authenticity were applied. Results: From the data, five main themes and ten sub-themes emerged. The findings revealed that structures such as orientation programmes, dedicated mentorship, shadowing, and continuous professional development are essential in empowering NNGs during their transition into the CCU environment. Such comprehensive support greatly enhances their confidence and competence. AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Agtergrond: Nuut-gegradueerde verpleegkundiges in Suid-Afrika betree kritiekesorg-eenhede dikwels met beperkte blootstelling en ervaring, aangesien universiteitsprogramme slegs kort geleenthede aan studentverpleegkundiges bied om in hierdie hoogs gespesialiseerde eenhede te skadu. Kritieke sorgeenhede is bekend vir hul kompleksiteit, hoe pasientsiektegraad en afhanklikheid van gevorderde tegnologiee wat vinnige besluitneming en emosionele veerkragtigheid van verpleegkundiges vereis. Die wereldwye en nasionale tekort aan kritiekesorg-verpleegkundiges vererger die uitdaging, wat dikwels die ontplooiing van nuut-gegradueerde verpleegkundiges sonder ervaring, in hierdie eenhede noodsaak om personeeltekorte te vul. Hierbenewens kan onvoldoende orieentasie-, mentorskap-, en ondersteuningstrukture nuwe verpleegkundiges met gevoelens van angstigheid, onvoorbereidheid, onbevoegdheid en gebrekkige selfvertroue laat wanneer hulle die kritiekesorg-eenheidsomgewing betree. Navorsingsdoel: Die doel van die studie was om die bemagtiging wat nuut-gegradueerde verpleegkundiges ervaar terwyl hulle in privaat kritiekesorg-eenhede in die Wes-Kaap werk, te verken. Navorsingsdoelwitte: Die doelwitte was om: • Die ervarings van nuut-gegradueerde verpleegkundiges te verken oor hoe geleentheidstrukture gebruik word om bemagtiging moontlik te maak. • Die ervarings van nuut-gegradueerde verpleegkundiges te verken oor hoe magstrukture gebruik word om bemagtiging moontlik te maak. Metode:'n Beskrywende kwalitatiewe ontwerp was gebruik om insig te verkry in die verskynsel wat bestudeer was. Die deelnemers het permanent aangestelde nuut-gegradueerde verpleegkundiges (met 'n vierjaar graad of driejaar diploma) wat gedurende hul eerste jaar as geregistreerde verpleegkundiges in privaat kritieke- sorg-eenhede in die Wes-Kaap gewerk het, na 'n eenjaar gemeenskapsdiens in die regeringsektor, ingesluit. Die finale steekproef het uit nege deelnemers bestaan, almal vroulik, met almal van hulle wat 'n vierjaar voorgraadse verpleeggraad voltooi het. Etiese goedkeuring was deur die Gesondheidsnavorsingsetiekkomitee van die Universiteit Stellenbosch verleen. Deelnemers het skriftelike ingeligte toestemming om aan die studie deel te neem, verskaf. Data was ingesamel by wyse van individuele aanlyn MS Teams-onderhoude, gelei deur 'n semi-gestruktureerde onderhoudsraamwerk en deur Carl Rogers se reflektiewe onderhoudstegniek te gebruik. Data-analise was uitgevoer volgens die ses fases soos uiteengesit in Creswell se metode van data-analise. Om betroubaarheid te verbeter, was beginsels van geloofwaardigheid, oordraagbaarheid, betroubaarheid, bevestigbaarheid en egtheid toegepas. Resultate: Uit die data het vyf hooftemas en tien subtemas na vore gekom. Die bevindinge het aan die lig gebring dat strukture soos orienteringsprogramme, toegewyde mentorskap, skaduwerk en deurlopende professionele ontwikkeling noodsaaklik is om nuut-gegradueerde verpleegkundiges tydens hul oorgang na die kritiekesorg-eenheidsomgewing, te bemagtig. Sulke omvattende ondersteuning skyn hul selfvertroue en bevoegdheid aansienlik te verbeter. Masters 2025-12-18T09:58:54Z 2025-12-18T09:58:54Z 2025-12 Thesis https://scholar.sun.ac.za/handle/10019.1/134606 en Stellenbosch University xii, 88 pages : illustrations, maps, includes annexures application/pdf Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| spellingShingle | Nurses -- Training of -- South Africa Nursing students -- Education -- South Africa Nurses -- Employment -- South Africa Nurses -- Continuing education -- South Africa Critical care nursing -- South Africa UCTD Du Preez, Isabella Philippa Empowerment in critical care units : exploring the experiences of new nurse graduates |
| title | Empowerment in critical care units : exploring the experiences of new nurse graduates |
| title_full | Empowerment in critical care units : exploring the experiences of new nurse graduates |
| title_fullStr | Empowerment in critical care units : exploring the experiences of new nurse graduates |
| title_full_unstemmed | Empowerment in critical care units : exploring the experiences of new nurse graduates |
| title_short | Empowerment in critical care units : exploring the experiences of new nurse graduates |
| title_sort | empowerment in critical care units exploring the experiences of new nurse graduates |
| topic | Nurses -- Training of -- South Africa Nursing students -- Education -- South Africa Nurses -- Employment -- South Africa Nurses -- Continuing education -- South Africa Critical care nursing -- South Africa UCTD |
| url | https://scholar.sun.ac.za/handle/10019.1/134606 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT dupreezisabellaphilippa empowermentincriticalcareunitsexploringtheexperiencesofnewnursegraduates |