Strategies to mitigate student nurse's absenteeism at specialized psychiatric hospitals in the Limpopo Province, South Africa

Abstract

Student nurses’ absenteeism has become an ongoing challenge in public and private nursing higher education institutions of learning globally. This study was conducted to develop strategies to mitigate student nurses’ absenteeism at specialized psychiatric hospitals in the Limpopo Province of South Africa. A qualitative approach using explorative, descriptive, and contextual design was employed. The study was conducted in the Evuxakeni, Hayani, and Thabamoopo Hospitals, as they are the only specialized psychiatric hospitals in the Limpopo Province. Ten student nurses were purposively sampled from each hospital for level IV’s focus groups and seven student nurses from each hospital for level III’s focus groups. The total number of focus groups was six; two from each hospital for levels III and IV. The total number of student nurses from all focus groups was fifty-one. In addition, four registered professional nurses from two specialized psychiatric hospitals and three from one specialized psychiatric hospital were purposively sampled, and data saturation was reached on the third professional nurse from the third hospital. Data were collected through individual in-depth interviews with professional nurses and focus group discussions with student nurses. Data were analysed using a thematic approach. Measures to ensure trustworthiness were also enhanced. Ethical considerations were adhered to throughout the study. The following four themes with sub-themes emerged from data analysis: student nurses’ perceptions regarding contributory factors of absenteeism, professional nurses’ perceptions regarding contributory factors of absenteeism, views of student nurses on strategies needed to mitigate absenteeism, and views of professional nurses on strategies required to mitigate absenteeism. The six elements of practice theory outlined by Dickoff et al. (1968), SWOT, and BOEM informed the development of strategies. The strategies were validated by a team of expert health care professionals in psychiatric nursing practice in the presence of the study promoters. Recommendations were made for further research to evaluate the implementation and effectiveness of the developed strategies to mitigate student nurses’ absenteeism during Psychiatric Nursing Science placement in the Limpopo Province.