Contributory factors related to patient safety incidence: A nursing perspective.

Background: There are growing concerns about patient safety and quality assurance enhancement in the healthcare setting because of the increase in the incidence of patient harm and adverse events over the years. Aim: This study explored the contributory factors associated with patient safety practices. Setting: The study was conducted in two private hospitals in Gauteng province, South Africa. Methods: A qualitative approach was used to gain an in-depth understanding of the issues pertaining to patient safety incidence. Purposive sampling was used to select professional nurses practicing within the two private hospitals. Thematic analysis was used. The study utilised the Donabedian model of patient safety and quality. Results: The study revealed that majority of the professional nurses did not understand the concept of patient safety; there was poor communication between the multidisciplinary team. There was poor adherence to patient safety policies. Conclusion: Patient safety issues remain an issue of concern in public health. There is a need for nurses to be capacitated on the implementation of patient safety programmes as well as improving communication within the multidisciplinary team. Identifying and addressing risk and contributory factors will help reduce the global burden of patient harm. Contribution: The study has presented the challenges as seen with patient safety and made recommendations on how to improve patient safety from the nursing perspective. It is anticipated that the results of this study may be used to create awareness on patient safety issues. This should promote a good healthcare climate in private healthcare institutions.

Guidelines to support newly qualified professional nurses for effective clinical practice.

BACKGROUND:  Transitioning to a professional role is difficult for newly qualified professional nurses. Given the challenges that these nurses experience during the transition to practice, support is essential for them to become efficient, safe, confident, and competent in their professional roles. OBJECTIVES:  The purpose of this study was to explore the transition experiences of newly qualified professional nurses to develop a preceptorship model. METHOD:  This study employed a qualitative approach to purposively collect data. Concept analyses were conducted applying the steps suggested by Walker and Avant, and the related concepts were classified utilising the survey list of Dickoff, James and Wiedenbach's practice theory. RESULTS:  A preceptorship model for the facilitation of guidance and support in the clinical area for newly qualified professional nurses was developed. The model consists of six components, namely, the clinical environment, the operational manager and preceptor, the newly qualified professional nurse, the preceptorship, the assessment of learning, and the outcome. CONCLUSION:  The study revealed that newly qualified professional nurses face many transition challenges when entering clinical practice. They are thrown far in, experience a reality shock, and are not ready to start performing their professional role. The participants agreed that guidance and support are needed for their independent practice role.Contribution: The preceptorship model for newly qualified professional nurses would be necessary for the transition period within hospitals. This preceptorship model may be implemented by nursing education institutions as part of their curriculum to prepare pre-qualifying students for the professional role.

Pharmacist Assistants' role in medicine supply management at a primary healthcare setting.

Background: The need to improve essential medicine supply in the public sector is of paramount importance to ensure that the drugs used in treatment regimens are accessible, acceptable, safe, cost effective and affordable to the population. Aim: To assess the role of post-basic pharmacist assistants at primary healthcare clinics in order to make recommendations aimed at improving essential medicine supply management. Setting: The study covered five provinces namely: Eastern Cape, Free State, Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal and Mpumalanga. Method: A qualitative, exploratory, descriptive research design was followed, using a semi-structured interview guide to collect data from 11 District Pharmaceutical Service Managers together with medicine availability reports review. Data analysis was performed using Colaizzi's seven steps. Results: The study found that there is a shortage of post-basic pharmacist assistants in primary healthcare clinics, which affects the management and availability of medicine supplies. Placement of the post-basic pharmacist assistants would improve medicine supply management in the primary healthcare clinics. Conclusion: At least one post-basic pharmacist assistant should be appointed at each primary healthcare clinic in order to ensure efficient medicine supply management and consistent medicine availability. Contribution: The study provides evidence that primary healthcare clinics without post-basic pharmacist assistants are more likely to have erratic medicine supply management practices and confirms that post-basic pharmacist assistants play a positive role in the medicine supply management processes in primary healthcare clinics.