Abstract
D.Cur.
Since 1994, the government has engaged in extensive transformative
processes that included the reviewing and restructuring of all relevant
legislation, organisations, institutions and statutory bodies. These
transformative demands resulted in the development and implementation of a
new constitution and ensuing transformative legislation and policies. It is for
this reason that the Department of Health, in attempting to transform the
health system in South Africa, developed a strategy known as the Health
Sector Strategic Framework, which sets out a 10-point plan. This plan states
amongst others, that health professions and professional bodies develop
Continuing Professional Development (CPD) systems/programmes. Over and
above this other transformative developments in the education and labour
frameworks, professional conduct hearings and national and international
benchmarking influenced the need for a CPD system for nurses and midwives
in South Africa.
The problem statement is that there is no formalised and regulated CPD
system for nurses and midwives in South Africa. The following research
questions are relevant:
• What is the international trend with regard to CPD for nurses and
midwives?
• What is the national trend with regard to CPD for healthcare
professionals in South Africa?
• What will a CPD system for nurses and midwives in South Africa
comprise?
• How will a CPD system for nurses and midwives in South Africa be
implemented to ensure credibility?
The overall aim of this study was to develop a CPD system for nurses and
midwives in South Africa. To accomplish this overall aim the following
objectives were formulated:
• To explore and describe existing knowledge frameworks on Continuing
Professional Development for nurses and midwives in selected
countries, internationally and for health professionals in South Africa
• To describe the draft CPD system for nurses and midwives in South
Africa
• To describe a final CPD system for nurses and midwives in South
Africa.
This study was conducted within the context of the South African professional,
ethical and legal framework for Continuing Professional Development for
nurses and midwives in South Africa. A descriptive, exploratory and
contextual design was conducted. The description of a draft CPD system was
based on the theoretical framework. The draft CPD system was developed
from 9 June 2000 until May 2003 and exposed to critical reflection by the
stakeholders of the SANC, the profession at large and the human resource
directorates in each of the nine (9) provinces in South Africa. The researcher
developed the final CPD system for nurses and midwives in South Africa. This
final CPD system was exposed to critical reflection to confirm face and
content validity, followed by a refinement of the CPD system.
Emerging from this research and based on the feedback of the
validators/appraisers, recommendations are made with reference to practice,
nursing and midwifery education and research: The implementation of a
formal, coordinated and regulated CPD system for nurses and midwives in
South Africa is necessary as part of a quality promotion initiative and to meet
the requirements of the transformative legislation especially pertaining to the
labour and education legal framework.