Abstract
M.Cur. (Nursing Education)
There is a shortage of nurses in the country and worldwide, and the problem is compounded by the resignation of nurse educators. These nurse educators leave with their expertise and skills, thus compromising the provision of quality teaching and learning. Despite the mandate by the Gauteng Department of Health to increase the student nurse intake by 25% each year, there are currently no retention strategies for nurse educators who may want to resign from a Johannesburg nursing college. It is thus imperative that a study to determine the factors leading to the resignation of nurse educators be conducted.
The following research questions gave direction to the research study:
What are the factors that lead nurse educators to resign from a nursing college in Johannesburg?
What can be done to retain nurse educators at a nursing college in Johannesburg?
The purpose of the study was to explore and describe the factors that led to the resignation of nurse educators at a Johannesburg nursing college and to describe strategies to retain them. A qualitative, exploratory, descriptive and contextual research design was used to provide an in-depth description of factors leading to nurse educators resigning from a Johannesburg nursing college. A purposive sampling method was used. When the sample was insufficient, snowball sampling was also used to identify other nurse educators who have resigned from the nursing college under study within the specified period between year 2000 to 2008.
Fifteen (15) voluntarily agreed to take part in the study after they were invited. A pilot study was conducted with one (1) participant, who has resigned but was not involved in the actual research, and it assisted in determining the feasibility of the research question. Individual face-to-face semi-structured interviews were used to gather information from the nurse educators who resigned from the nursing college in question.
The responses from the nurse educators were recorded on an audiotape recorder and field notes with the permission of the participants. An open coding, qualitative
data analysis method was used. Trustworthiness was accomplished using the strategies as outlined by Lincoln & Guba (1985: 301–328). Ethical standards for nurse researchers were adhered to as outlined by DENOSA (in Brink et al., 2012: 48–51).
The results of the data analysis that emerged were three (3) main categories, seven (7) subcategories and their related themes. The findings on factors leading to nurse educators resigning from a Johannesburg nursing college included factors related to management of the nursing college; emotional and attitudinal factors; and factors related to cultural diversity. Through conceptualisation, the themes identified from the research were supported or refuted by the relevant existing literature and interpreted by the researcher. Conclusions drawn from the conceptualization formed the basis for the description of strategies to retain nurse educators at a Johannesburg nursing college. The strategies identified through conceptualization were described in order to assist the nursing college under study to retain its nurse educators. It is recommended that the strategies be implemented in nursing education, management and research.