Opinions of professional nurses on succession planning in a paediatric context

Date
2012-03
Authors
Petersen, Marleen Patricia
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
Abstract
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: There is no formal succession plan for paediatric professional nurses (PNs) in academic, tertiary hospitals in the Western Cape. A lack of a succession plan could have major implications for the sustainability of effective and efficient health care services (Department of Health, DoH, 2010:1). Therefore, a systematic scientific investigation is required to determine the opinions of PNs regarding the characteristics or criteria for a succession plan in a paediatric organization. The aim of this study was to determine the opinions of paediatric PNs regarding succession or career planning in academic, tertiary hospitals in the Western Cape. A quantitative approach with an exploratory, descriptive, non-experimental design was applied by means of a questionnaire survey which consisted of closed and openended questions. Reliability and validity were assured by means of a pilot study and consultation with nursing experts and a statistician. Cronbach’s alpha test was used to test for internal consistency between the responses to the 3-point Likert scale and dichotomous questions on the characteristics of an ideal succession plan. The data was collected by means of a self-administered, structured questionnaire to elicit opinions regarding the characteristics of an ideal succession plan that includes a career plan. Ethical approval was obtained from the Health Research Ethics Committee of the University of Stellenbosch. Permission for access to the hospitals was obtained from the hospital and nursing managers. Informed written consent was obtained from the participants. The questionnaires were distributed personally by the researcher at two hospitals and via the assistant manager in nursing at one hospital. Data was analysed by the statistician and descriptive statistics were presented by means of frequency distribution tables and histograms. Furthermore, the existence of relationships between variables was compared by means of a t-test or when assumptions of the t-test were not fulfilled an appropriate non-parametric test was considered. The results were evidence of the need for the development of a succession plan based on Benner’s Novice to Expert Model for paediatric PNs in academic, tertiary hospitals in the Western Cape. In addition, participants’ opinions on the value of a succession plan, including a career plan showed multiple benefits that will outweigh its challenges once developed and implemented. Recommendations are based on the scientific evidence that show the urgent need for the development and implementation of a formal five level skill-based clinical training programme that includes a 360-degree feedback system for paediatric PNs by means of an integrated, collaborative approach. The development and implementation of a formal succession plan will strengthen and enhance the retention of the various levels of competent, proficient and expert paediatric PNs. In addition, a formal succession plan will attract and motivate the novice and advance beginners to progress to competent, proficient and expert levels.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Daar is geen formele opvolgplan vir pediatriese professionele verpleegpersoneel in akademiese tersiêre hospitale in die Wes-Kaap nie. ’n Gebrek aan ’n opvolgplan kan ernstige gevolge vir die volhoubaarheid van effektiewe en doeltreffende gesondheidssorgdienste inhou (DoH, 2010:1). Dus, is ’n sistematiese wetenskaplike ondersoek nodig om die opinies van professionele verpleegpersoneel te bepaal, ten opsigte van die eienskappe of kriteria vir ’n opvolgplan in ’n pediatriese organisasie. Die doel van hierdie studie was om die opinies van pediatriese professionele verpleegpersoneel te bepaal ten opsigte van ’n opvolg- of beroepsplan in akademiese, tersiêre hospitale in die Wes-Kaap. ’n Kwantitatiewe benadering met ’n ondersoekende, beskrywende, nie-eksperimentele ontwerp is toegepas deur gebruik te maak van ’n vraelysopname wat bestaan het uit geslote en ope-vrae. Betroubaarheid en geldigheid is verseker deur gebruik te maak van ’n loodsondersoek en raadpleging van verpleegkundiges en ’n statistikus. Cronbach se alpha-toets is gebruik om te toets vir interne konsekwentheid tussen die response tot die 3-punt Likertskaal en tweeledige vrae oor die kenmerke van ’n ideale opvolgplan. Die data is gekollekteer deur gebruik te maak van ’n selfgeadministreerde, gestruktureerde vraelys om opinies te onthul ten opsigte van die kenmerke van ’n ideale opvolgplan, wat ’n beroepsplan insluit. Etiese goedkeuring is verkry van die Gesondheidsnavorsing se Etiese Komitee van die Universiteit van Stellenbosch. Toestemming vir toegang tot die hospitale is verkry van die hospitaal en verpleegbestuurders. Ingeligte skriftelike toestemming is van die deelnemers verkry. Die vraelyste is persoonlik versprei deur die navorser by twee hospitale en via die assistentbestuurder wat by een van die hospitale verpleeg. Data is geanaliseer deur die statistikus en beskrywende statistiek is aangebied by wyse van frekwensie verspreidingstabelle en histogramme. Voorts, is die bestaan van verwantskappe tussen veranderlikes vergelyk, deur gebruik te maak van ’n ttoets of waar veronderstellings van die t-toets nie bereik is nie, is ’n gepaste nieparametriese toets oorweeg. Die resultate is bewys van die behoefte vir die ontwikkeling van ’n opvolgplan wat gebaseer is op Benner se Novice to Expert Model vir pediatriese professionele verpleegpersoneel in akademiese, tersiêre hospitale in die Wes-Kaap. Daarbenewens, het deelnemers se opinies die waarde van ’n opvolgplan wat ’n beroepsplan insluit, die veelvoudige voordele wat dit inhou getoon wat die uitdagings sal oortref, sodra dit ontwikkel en geïmplementeer word. Aanbevelings is gebaseer op die wetenskaplike bewys wat dui op die dringende behoefte vir die ontwikkeling en implementering van ’n formele vyfvlak vaardigheidsgebaseerde kliniese opleidingsprogram wat ’n 360-grade terugvoersisteem insluit vir pediatriese professionele verpleegpersoneel deur middel van ’n geïntegreerde, medewerkende benadering. Die ontwikkeling en implementering van ’n formele opvolgplan sal die retensie van die verskeie vlakke van bekwame, vaardige en kundige pediatriese professionele verpleegpersoneel versterk en bevorder. Boonop sal ’n formele opvolgplan nuwelinge en gevorderdes trek en motiveer om te ontwikkel tot bekwame, vaardige en kundige vlakke.
Description
Thesis (MCur)--Stellenbosch University, 2012.
Keywords
Professional nurses, Succession planning, Paediatric professional nurses (PNs), Dissertations -- Nursing, Theses -- Nursing
Citation