High-fidelity simulation: A practice model for nurse educators at a South African private higher education institution

Background. The clinical skills development of student nurses is one of many challenges facing nursing education owing to a lack of available clinical placements and learning opportunities. Simulation training as an optional teaching-learning method creates an environment where clinical skills are developed and students are prepared for the nursing profession. The successful implementation of high-fidelity simulation (HFS) strategies as part of the nursing curricula requires nurse educators to have knowledge and skills. At the South African private higher education institution (SAPHEI) where the research for this study was done, it became evident that nurse educators do not have the required knowledge, skills or support to implement HFS. The absence of evidence in the literature of a practice model for a SAPHEI to facilitate the implementation of HFS reveals a gap in the practice base of nursing education.Objective. To develop a practice model for nurse educators at a SAPHEI to facilitate the implementation of HFS.Methods. The researcher used a theory-generative research design. The study was conducted in two phases, with two steps in each phase, to address four objectives in all.Results. Phase 1 identified and described the main and related concepts. A resulting conceptual framework was used for the development of the practice model. Phase 2 addressed the relational meaning of the main and related concepts, as well as the construction of the practice model through theory synthesis.Conclusion. The main aim of this research study was to develop a practice model for nurse educators at a SAPHEI to facilitate the implementation of HFS as part of the clinical skills development of student nurses. The practice model offers a schematic outline that represents HFS as a teaching-learning method. The importance of the outline lies therein that it specifies the context and situations in which the model is useful

Adverse reactions to food: navigating the maze in primary health care

Primary health care providers are often confronted with patients describing adverse reactions to food. With a multiplex of differential diagnoses, it is essential to have a structured approach to these complaints. Just as allergies can have a negative impact on quality of life, inappropriate food allergy labelling can cause unnecessary distress and hardship for patients. Understanding the diagnostic approaches to adverse food reactions, alongside an appreciation of multidisciplinary collaboration, can assist the clinician in making appropriate decisions in the management of these patients. Keywords: food allergy; food hypersensitivity; food intolerance; allergy-focused history; allergy diagnosis.

Circumcision Weeks: Making Circumcision Part of Routine Training and Service Delivery at District-level Hospitals in South Africa

"Background: Medically safe; elective male circumcision supports traditional and cultural rites of passage by reducing the risk of adverse events and death among men undergoing initiation. It is a way of preventing penile conditions that arise from being uncircumcised. It also protects against various sexually transmitted infections; playing a particularly important role in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) prevention; as it protects against HIV infection in men by up to 60. It also helps reduce herpes simplex virus type 2; a key biological co-factor thought to account for some human susceptibility to HIV infection and human papillomavirus. To address these needs and to meet the World Health Organization's call to upscale male circumcision to 80 in HIV/AIDS epidemic-gripped sub-Saharan Africa; there is a need to provide male circumcision as standard care in district health. Method: A retrospective review of three years of circumcision services; using the sleeve method; and not the high-volume; forceps-guided method; and training at a Level 1 district hospital in South Africa. Results: Two hundred and twenty-one medical circumcisions were performed; increasing significantly in each successive year. Mostly; they were carried out under local anaesthetic; and there were only four complications; all of which were successfully resolved. The average age of the patients was 20; and generally; they elected to have medical circumcision carried out for cultural reasons. Some 60 students and clinicians were trained in safe medical male circumcision. Conclusion: To meet the growing demand for male medical circumcision; especially among teenagers and young adult men at district-level hospitals; there is a need to significantly expand the surgical competency of clinicians in this field. ""Circumcision weeks"" are one way of routinely upscaling surgical skill levels; while simultaneously responding to increased patient demand for safe medical circumcision."

An Approach to Clinical Problem Solving for Primary Health Care Student Nurses

The article provides a description of a method of teaching a clinical problem-solving process to primary health care nurses/clinical nurse practitioners (PHC nurses). The process was developed in the Soweto PHC Nurse Training Unit over the past 30 years as a result of the changing availability and role of nurse and doctor teaching staff. Students doing the diploma for nurse clinicians (Diploma in Clinical Nursing Science; Health Assessment; Treatment and Care) are guided in the use of mind maps; assisted by constant clinical practice and group discussions to develop their clinical problem-solving process. This method has assisted in clinical training