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The nursing practitioners at Mediclinic strive to provide the quality that meets patients’ expectations at all times. Various factors have an impact on nursing service levels, says Mediclinic Southern Africa’s nursing executive, Estelle Jordaan.
“For instance, gone are the days of nurses’ residences situated on the hospital grounds, which allowed nurses to work long hours without having to worry about the availability of public transport,” explains Jordaan.
In addition, South Africa has an ageing nursing population - in 2010 only 23% of registered nurses were under the age of 40 - and one of the greatest nursing leadership challenges lies in creating an environment in which the older nurses can act as role models to mentor and guide the younger generation of nurses.
“Passing on the expertise of the Baby Boomer generation to Generation Y nurses will, for instance, not only improve the relationship between older and younger nurses but also their relationship with medical practitioners, which is often strained as a result of doctors’ perceptions that the new generation of nurses lacks knowledge and skill. Changing this perception is important, as research shows that the relationship between doctors and nurses has a direct impact on patient outcomes,” says Jordaan.
But the greatest challenge of all lies in restoring the nurse-patient relationship to its former status and encouraging students with the necessary attributes to enter the profession. The last few years have seen a sincere effort from leadership in South African organisations to position nursing as a profession with far more respectable remuneration. There is, however, a need to break the vicious cycle hampering the recruitment of committed student nurses who are influenced by negative media coverage on adverse events in hospitals.”
In April this year at the National Nursing Summit held in Johannesburg, the Minister of Health, Dr Aaron Motsoaledi, pledged his support to restoring the dignity of the nursing profession in South Africa. With his backing and the support of the people of this country, the nursing leadership will endeavour to ensure that the profession will flourish in the years to come so that the healthcare goals for this country can be met.
“For instance, gone are the days of nurses’ residences situated on the hospital grounds, which allowed nurses to work long hours without having to worry about the availability of public transport,” explains Jordaan.
In addition, South Africa has an ageing nursing population - in 2010 only 23% of registered nurses were under the age of 40 - and one of the greatest nursing leadership challenges lies in creating an environment in which the older nurses can act as role models to mentor and guide the younger generation of nurses.
“Passing on the expertise of the Baby Boomer generation to Generation Y nurses will, for instance, not only improve the relationship between older and younger nurses but also their relationship with medical practitioners, which is often strained as a result of doctors’ perceptions that the new generation of nurses lacks knowledge and skill. Changing this perception is important, as research shows that the relationship between doctors and nurses has a direct impact on patient outcomes,” says Jordaan.
But the greatest challenge of all lies in restoring the nurse-patient relationship to its former status and encouraging students with the necessary attributes to enter the profession. The last few years have seen a sincere effort from leadership in South African organisations to position nursing as a profession with far more respectable remuneration. There is, however, a need to break the vicious cycle hampering the recruitment of committed student nurses who are influenced by negative media coverage on adverse events in hospitals.”
In April this year at the National Nursing Summit held in Johannesburg, the Minister of Health, Dr Aaron Motsoaledi, pledged his support to restoring the dignity of the nursing profession in South Africa. With his backing and the support of the people of this country, the nursing leadership will endeavour to ensure that the profession will flourish in the years to come so that the healthcare goals for this country can be met.
