Perceptions of professional nurses about the bridging course programme in alleviating shortage of staff at health services in the Amathole sub-district, Eastern Cape Province.

Abstract

The study focuses on the perceptions of professional nurses concerning the Bridging Course programme for the alleviation of shortage of staff at health care facilities of the Amathole sub-district, specifically, Mnquma Local Municipality in the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa. The Amathole sub-district is situated in the most remote rural areas of the then Transkeian homeland comprising the three magisterial districts, Nqamakwe, Butterworth and Centane. The health services in this area are experiencing a gross shortage of professional nurses. The aim of the study is to describe the perceptions of professional nurses about the Bridging Course programme in the alleviation of the shortage of staff at health care facilities of the Amathole sub-district in the Eastern Cape. The research question that guided this study was.," What role does the Bridging Course play in the alleviation of the shortage of staff at health care services in the Amathole sub-district in the Eastern Cape?" The objective of the study was to determine and describe the perceptions of professional nurses about the Bridging programme for alleviating the shortage of staff at health care services of Amathole sub-district in the Eastern Cape Province. The research design was quantitative and descriptive. The population consisted of the 289 Registered Nurses currently employed in the two District Hospitals and 16 Primary Health Care (PHC) clinics situated in this sub-district. The simple stratified sample of 149 Registered Nurses used was taken from the above population. Data were collected quantitatively using a closed-ended questionnaire. Quantitative data were analysed using the Statistical Package of Social Sciences (SPSS version 20). Ethical considerations were ensured by means of assuring privacy, confidentiality and anonymity as far as the participants are concerned. Prior to conducting the study, approval was sought from the University of Fort Hare Research Committee, the Eastern Cape Health Research Committee, the District Manager for PHC services and the Nursing Service Managers of the two District Hospitals concerned. The study revealed that the Bridging Course students indeed are playing a vital role in this rural area by being a present help during placement in clinical areas, thereby alleviating shortage of staff. Nurses are critical to the quality and safety of the healthcare system hence the need for the presence of the Bridging Course students in clinical areas of this rural area. In conclusion, the findings were used to attract the attention of the relevant stakeholders so as to influence the decision of the South African Nursing Council on abolishing the Bridging Course programme in the hope of retaining the Bridging Course in this rural area. The researcher recommends the preservation of the Bridging Course programme in this remote and rural area with a gross shortage of nurses.