Experiences of Newly Qualified Registered Nurses (R.683) regarding negative workplace environment in selected hospitals of Limpopo Province, South Africa

SA Journal of Human Resource Management

 
 
Field Value
 
Title Experiences of Newly Qualified Registered Nurses (R.683) regarding negative workplace environment in selected hospitals of Limpopo Province, South Africa
 
Creator Baloyi, Tinyiko S. Ramathuba, Dorah U. Netshisaulu, Khathutshelo G.
 
Subject human resource management, experiences; newly qualified registered nurses; public hospitals; workplace environment; bullying; insubordination; orientation; attitude; behaviour; nurse manager
Description Orientation: Globally, healthcare workplace environment is regarded as complex and interactive in nature, hence a supportive collegial environment is crucial in professional socialisation of newly qualified registered nurses, particularly (regulation regarding bridging course [R.683]) cohort who were labelled to can ‘hit the floor running’ due to their previous enrolled nursing experience. Employees friendly workplace environments are associated with job satisfaction, less stress and intent to abandon the nursing profession. Hence newly qualified registered nurses need support in their initial period of employment.Research purpose: The study explored and described the experiences of workplace environment by newly qualified registered nurses (NQRNs) (R.683) in their first 18 months of employment in selected hospitals of Limpopo province, South Africa.Motivation for the study: Previous studies documented much about challenges experienced by newly qualified registered nurses in their first year, yet less has been revealed from the views of newly qualified registered nurses (R.683) who upgraded from enrolled nursing about their workplace environment experiences in their first 18 months of employment.Research approach/design and method: The researcher used a qualitative approach following explorative, descriptive and contextual design. Seven focus group interviews were conducted with a sample of 51 newly qualified registered nurses (R.683), who were purposively sampled in their first 18 months of employment in different units of selected hospitals from Mopani and Vhembe districts of Limpopo province South Africa. Thematic analysis revealed one theme and five sub-themes that negatively influence their perception on workplace environment: negative attitudes and behaviours, bullying, lack of orientation, shortage of staff and workload, and insubordination.Main findings: Contrary to what has often been assumed, that newly qualified registered nurses (R.683) are work ready because they possess previous nursing experience. Our findings indicate that regardless of previous nursing experience, NQRNs’ (R.683) re-entry into the workplace environment is overwhelming and stressful like any other newly qualified nurse, hence they perceived their workplace environment as negative.Practical/managerial implications: Nurse managers should ensure a safe and supportive workplace environment. The negative attitudes and behaviours, bullying and insubordination among nursing staff should be acknowledged and addressed as they may hamper the easy adjustment of newly qualified registered nurses (R.683). Although less stress is a form of motivating newly qualified registered nurses (R.683) to acquire more knowledge and skills to independently manage challenging situations in the unit, newly qualified registered nurses (R.683) deserve to be supported to gain confidence in their performance.Contribution/value-add: Newly qualified registered nurses felt overwhelmed and stressed during their adaptation stage, especially when they were left to run units by themselves with little managerial skills. As newly qualified registered nurses (R.683) should learn unit management through accepting responsibility and accountability, managing unit prematurely to gain self-confidence to practise as an autonomous competent nurse practitioner.
 
Publisher AOSIS
 
Contributor None
Date 2024-02-29
 
Type info:eu-repo/semantics/article info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion — Qualitative explorative and descriptive method
Format text/html application/epub+zip text/xml application/pdf
Identifier 10.4102/sajhrm.v22i0.2142
 
Source SA Journal of Human Resource Management; Vol 22 (2024); 11 pages 2071-078X 1683-7584
 
Language eng
 
Relation
The following web links (URLs) may trigger a file download or direct you to an alternative webpage to gain access to a publication file format of the published article:

https://sajhrm.co.za/index.php/sajhrm/article/view/2142/3685 https://sajhrm.co.za/index.php/sajhrm/article/view/2142/3686 https://sajhrm.co.za/index.php/sajhrm/article/view/2142/3687 https://sajhrm.co.za/index.php/sajhrm/article/view/2142/3688
 
Coverage South Africa 2015-2022 35-57yrs; Both males and females; health care professionals;African
Rights Copyright (c) 2024 Tinyiko S. Baloyi, Dorah U. Ramathuba, Khathutshelo G. Netshisaulu https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
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