Exploring absenteeism of nursing and midwifery students in a selected campus in Free State province, South Africa.
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Date
2016
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Abstract
Background. Student nurse attendance during training is mandatory and the South
African Nursing Council (SANC) stipulates that students must attend a certain percentage
of hours for both theory and practice during their training. Unauthorized student nurse
absenteeism, especially in the clinical areas, has become an increasing problem in
nursing education institutions and in the universities. This study explored student
absenteeism with the aim of generating solutions which are specifically relevant to the
context of the Free State School of Nursing.
Methods: A non-experimental, descriptive, exploratory design was used to guide the
research process. The non-probability convenience sampling method was used, with 152
nursing and midwifery students as participants. Data was collected by means of a
questionnaire. Data analysis was performed using SPSS version 23.0. Descriptive
statistics and co-relational procedures were used to analyse the data.
Results: The results showed a significant relationship between age and absenteeism.
Evidence revealed that younger participants between the age range of 18-30 years were
in agreement that students are absent at the college because lecturers' teaching methods
are boring and they are avoiding certain wards with very sick patients. The majority
(62.5%) of second-year participants agreed that students are absent in college because
they are lazy to do the work, while 48% of third-year and 2.6% of fourth year participants
agreed. The students proposed college holidays after the first semester examinations,
family responsibility, sick leave and an increase in their monthly stipend.
Conclusions: Nursing and midwifery students at the selected campus are generally
absent at the college and clinical areas because they: attend leadership meetings, have
family challenges to attend, are not paid for working but funded for studying, and because
of physical illness. It was recommended that lecturers should make use of innovative
teaching strategies that stimulate the students` analytical thinking and creativity to avoid
boredom in class, as well as introduction of rewards and/ or incentives in the form of
certificates or trophies for students who do not absent themselves.
Description
Masters of Nursing. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban 2014.