Challenges faced by midwifery students regarding clinical supervision at selected hospitals in Vhembe District, Limpopo Province

20^th Global Nursing Education Conference

March 21-23, 2018 | New York, USA

Julia L Mafumo

University of Venda, South Africa

Scientific Tracks Abstracts: J Nurs Care

Abstract :

Background: Nursing is a clinical based profession where nurses need to be taught about providing nursing care in the clinical environment. The clinical environment plays an essential part in student nurses' learning it empowers the student with skill and competency. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to explore the challenges faced by students during placement regarding clinical supervision at the selected hospitals in Vhembe district, Limpopo province. Methods: A qualitative, exploratory, contextual and descriptive design was used. The population consisted of the learners registered for R425 Programme leading to registration as a nurse. Purposive sampling was used to select the participants. Data Collection: Data was collected by means of focus group discussion interviews. Data were collected until data saturation was reached. Data Analysis: The researcher used the process of bracketing. Themes that emerged were challenges regarding the staff and challenges regarding the allocation. Ethical Consideration: The researcher sought for approval to collect data from the appropriate authority at the University of Venda, the Provincial Department of Health. Results: Most learners expressed dissatisfaction regarding clinical supervision in the units. They indicated that there was poor support given to learners because the professional nurse concentrates much more on patient care and not learners. Students' comments confirmed that there are challenges regarding clinical supervision of students. Conclusion: The organization of the supervision was of significance with regard to the pedagogical atmosphere and the students' relation with professional nurses in the clinical environment. Training institutions and clinical learning areas need to come together to improve the challenges in clinical supervision

Biography :

Julia L Mafumo has her passion in training and supervision of learner nurses. She has been involved in Nursing Education for over 20 years where she is responsible for teaching learner nurses in different nursing programmes. She is currently working at University of Venda where she is responsible for “Clinical teaching supervision and evaluation of learner nurses in different clinical placements”. Currently, she is pursuing her PhD and her topic of research is Nursing Education.