Abstract
M.Cur.
The manager is responsible for quality education, research and appropriate
community service. The aim of this study is to provide guidelines for the purpose of
excellent management of a nursing department at a distance education technikon with
a view to facilitating the achievement of one of these responsibilities, that is to
provide quality education.
In South Africa increasing demands are being made on educational structures as
everyone needs to be afforded the opportunity for education and training. This also
implies demands on the training of nursing staff. Theoretical and vocational training
are combined in technikon training. Therefore a nursing department at a distance
education technikon should be managed excellent to meet all the demands. In an
attempt to make nurse training more accessible, this study focuses on management in
the context of a distance education technikon.
The paradigmatic perspective guiding this study is described by means of
metatheoretical, theoretical and methodological assumptions. The Nursing Theory for
the Whole Person is used to state the methodological and theoretical assumptions.
The methodological assumptions of this study are based on Botes's research model
(1994), which implies that a functional approach has been used.
In phase I of the research the experience of managers of distance education nursing
departments are investigated and described on the basis of individual interviews.
The data is used to formulate propositions to create a tentative conceptual framework.
In phase II the experience of managers of departments at a distance education
technikon is investigated and described by using a focus group interview.
Propositions are formulated by using the data and, together with the statements from
phase I, serve as a basis for creating a refined conceptual framework.
In phase III of the research a conceptual framework based on the propositions from
phase I and II as well as other literature, is described. From this the final conceptual
framework is formulated. Phase IV, derived from phase III, sets out guidelines for
managing a nursing department at a distance education technikon.