Abstract
The history of trade unions in South Africa dates to the apartheid years when workers were discriminated against based on gender, race and culture. Previously, nurses were never part of
or allowed to participate in trade unionism because of the competing rights. However, there has been a shift in the previous disposition that resulted in more nurses being part of the trade unions and engaging in trade union-related activities. The competing rights between nurses as key agents of care and their involvement in trade unions need to be balanced. The purpose of
the study was thus to explore and analyse the role of trade unions in nursing as a caring
profession within the South African context.
A mixed-method research design was used, which included both qualitative and quantitative approaches. An exploratory sequential approach was chosen, where the quantitative approach
was used to confirm the qualitative data. In phase one, the researcher used the qualitative phenomenological design to explore the experience of nurse regarding the role of trade unions in nursing as a caring profession and determine the effects of trade unions in nursing as a caring
profession. Phase two, which is quantitative, a descriptive research design was used to describe nurses’ perception of the role of trade unions in nursing as a caring profession. In phase three,
the researcher synthesised the data from the qualitative and quantitative findings. In the qualitative phase, the target population included the executive members of the Democratic Nursing Union of South Africa (DENOSA), the National Education, Health, and Allied
Workers’ Union (NEHAWU), and the Young Nurse Indaba Trade Union (YNITU). In the quantitative phase, a sample related to nursing was drawn from the population of posts on
DENOSA, NEHAWU and YNITU’s Facebook pages.
Purposive sampling was used for the qualitative phase, with data saturation being reached after
nine interviews were conducted. Themes and categories were analyzed through Colaizzi’s data analysis method. The themes that emerged were: Florence Nightingale image and the history
of nursing create a barrier of resistance to fully integrating trade unions into nursing; trade unions’ responsibilities are multi-functional and aim to transform nursing as a full-fledged
profession and also to protect and empower nurses as employees; and a lack of collaboration
between different role players related to nursing delays positive transformation of nursing as a caring profession.
v
Convenience sampling was used for the quantitative phase, where 100 posts were observed
from the Facebook pages of DENOSA, NEHAWU and YNITU. A checklist and data sheet were developed to guide the data collection process during structured participant observation.
Descriptive and inferential statistical data analysis was used. The patterns observed were: (a)
Lack of knowledge about the role of trade unions, (b) Motion of no confidence, (c) Nurses’
failure to acquire knowledge about their own profession/interest in money, and (d) Exploitation
by employers and South African Nursing Council (SANC).
Quantitative research findings were used to confirm the qualitative results. Data from the qualitative and quantitative phases were synthesized in phase three of the research study. The research findings obtained in qualitative research and the observations of the 100 Facebook
posts revealed patterns that were similar and did not refute each other. Hence, the themes and
categories from qualitative research were used because they best describe the role of trade unions in nursing as a caring profession.
Trustworthiness was ensured according to Lincoln and Guba’s criteria of credibility,
dependability, transferability, confirmability, and authenticity in qualitative research. In
quantitative research, the checklist’s reliability and validity were established during a pilot study. The researcher also adhered to the ethical principles of respect for autonomy, selfdetermination, beneficence and non-maleficence, full disclosure, confidentiality, and justice.
Research findings were discussed in phase four, and recommendations were made for nursing
education, nursing management, nursing practice, nursing research and policy development,
suggesting what role trade unions can play in nursing as a caring profession and how trade unions can be integrated into nursing as a caring profession.