Abstract
A therapeutic approach is a strategy that helps patients relax and feel satisfied and at ease in spite of their disease. The attributes of a therapeutic approach are behaviours of the registered nurses towards the patient which involves being polite and friendly towards fellow human beings, being there for the patient and nonjudgmental, respecting the patient irrespective of their circumstances and having sympathy and compassion towards the patient. In the South African context, there is a perception that role modelling of a therapeutic approach in private hospitals is of high quality as compared to regional public hospitals because private hospital patients are required to rate their experiences during the period of their hospitalisation. It is therefore imperative for registered nurses to role model the attributes of a therapeutic approach for student nurses in order for the hospital to receive high ratings. Role modelling of a therapeutic approach for student nurses plays a crucial role when teaching student nurses the art of the nursing profession. Student nurses placed at the regional public hospitals in Gauteng for their clinical learning requirements often experience role modelling of therapeutic approach differently to what they have learned in the classroom. The purpose of this study was to explore and describe the student nurses’ lived experiences regarding the role modelling of a therapeutic approach by registered nurses at a regional hospital in Gauteng in order to make recommendations to enhance role modelling of therapeutic approach for student nurses. A phenomenological qualitative, exploratory, descriptive, and contextual research design was used. In this study, a purposive sampling method was used to select second year student nurses completing their second year in the Bridging course programme for enrolled nurses leading to registration as a general nurse (R683) and who were willing to participate in the study. Data collection was achieved through focus group interviews and analysed using thematic qualitative data analysis following Giorgi’s descriptive phenomenological five-step method. Sample size was dependent on data saturation. vi The study was conducted in two phases. Phase 1 focused on the exploration and description of the experiences of student nurses with regard to the role modelling of therapeutic approach at a regional hospital in Gauteng. Conversely, Phase 2 focused on the recommendations to enhance role modelling of therapeutic approach for student nurses at a regional public hospital in Gauteng. Trustworthiness was accomplished using credibility, transferability, dependability, and confirmability. Ethical considerations were adhered to. From the data analysed, one central theme, which reflected that student nurses experienced role modelling of therapeutic approach by registered nurses negatively. Three main themes that emerged were (1) experienced non-therapeutic communication, (2) lack of professionalism and ethical conduct of registered nurses and (3) poor quality patient care rendered by registered nurses. The main themes and related sub-themes were conceptualised and integrated into relevant literature. Recommendations to enhance role modelling of therapeutic approach for student nurses at a regional public hospital in Gauteng were made.
M.Cur. (Nursing)