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Intensive care nurses in South Africa: Expectations and experiences in a public sector hospital
Author(s) -
Ronnie Linda
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
journal of nursing management
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.925
H-Index - 76
eISSN - 1365-2834
pISSN - 0966-0429
DOI - 10.1111/jonm.12826
Subject(s) - nursing , public sector , public hospital , nursing management , intensive care , medicine , psychology , political science , intensive care medicine , law
Aim To explore the content, fulfilment and potential breach of nurses’ psychological contracts and provide a nuanced understanding of the expectations and lived experiences of intensive care unit (ICU) nurses. Background The challenges presented by the South African healthcare system have implications for the motivation and retention levels of ICU nurses. In an environment such as the ICU, personnel dynamics and nursing management's role are crucial to success. Method A qualitative study of 44 ICU nurses from a South African tertiary hospital. Template analysis was used to identify themes. Manifest content analysis established the frequency of those themes. Results Psychological content elements were predominantly relational in nature. Nurses’ contracts were fulfilled by nursing managers, peers and patients. Examples of breach included unfairness, abuse of trust and public reprimands. Conclusions The nature of the work, the emphasis on professional and caring values, as well as the relational and intrinsic aspects associated with these, provide important indicators for the composition of nurses’ psychological contracts. Implications for Nursing Management Understanding ICU nurses’ expectations can ensure that their psychological contracts remain positive and fulfilled. Practical suggestions include public and private appreciation, autonomy, and management visibility and discretion.