THE CLINICAL RESOURCE NURSE’S PEER MENTORING ROLE IN SEHA FACILITIES IN ABU DHABI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES By AGNES NTLALETSE de LANGEN Student Number: 672-420-5 Submitted in accordance with the requirements For the degree of DOCTOR OF LITERATURE AND PHILOSOPHY In the subject HEALTH STUDIES At the UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH AFRICA PROMOTER: PROF ON MAKHUBELA-NKONDO JOINT PROMOTER: DR EM MATLAKALA DECEMBER 2016 DECLARATION I, Agnes Ntlaletse de Langen, solemnly declare that: THE ROLE OF A CLINICAL RESOURCE IN PEER MENTORING, is my own original work; and to the best of my knowledge, it has not been previously submitted for degree or examination purposes at any other institution of higher learning. I declare further that all the sources that I have used or quoted have been duly indicated and acknowledged by means of complete bibliographic references. Signed: ______________________ ___________________ Agnes Ntlaletse de Langen Date i DEDICATION I dedicate this exegetic work posthumously to my parents, Mr Aaron and Mrs Herminah Ramasehla, for instilling in me a culture of discipline and inculcating an appreciation of the value of education. I greatly appreciate and admire their resolute courage and determination. Agee, Mokone ‘a Mabula le Kwena e kgolo ya ka meetseng!!! To Leago Ramasehla, my recently born granddaughter, I communicate the same lessons still etched in my mind from my parents’ teachings: Kodumela moepa thutse, ga go lehumo le tšwago kgauswi”. (Perseverance is the mother of success)! I am now passing the baton on to you, Leago. ii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I acknowledge the invaluable contributions made to this study by a host of individuals and organizations whose names are mentioned below. That others are not mentioned by name hereunder, does not in any way constitute a non-recognition or diminishment of their immeasurable efforts and various other relevant contributions expended. I have neither omitted their names condescendingly, nor attenuated their indelible personal and professional insights. I take full responsibility for any omission that may arise. I extend my most hearfelt gratitude to my Heavenly Father; for His numinous guidance to first seek His kingdom and its righteousness, and that everything else will be added unto me. My Creator enabled me to depend on Him for everything. Without Him, I am nothing. He sent His holy angels to lift me up, lest I tread on stones. Thank you Father God for good health and your numinous guidance throughout this journey; My promoter, Professor ON Makhubela-Nkondo and joint promoter Dr EM Matlakala of the Department of Health Studies at the University of South Africa; for their insightful advice and guidance, as well as their tireless encouragement and support throughout this research project; The University of South Africa (UNISA); for granting me a bursary to register for the doctoral program in pursuit of my postgraduate studies in the College of Human Sciences, Department of Health Studies, (UNISA); The Unisa Registration Officers: Ms Lindi Madiseng, Messrs Peter Phuthuyagae and Thomas Moyo; for helping me with the application and registration procedures at UNISA; Ms Talana Erasmus, UNISA Librarian; for his kindness and resolute patience in the search and accumulation of relevant literature for this study; Dr ME Chauke, and Dr BT Mokoboto-Zwane; for providing innovative perspectives in respect of various pertinent aspects of the study; Le kamoso!!! (Be forever graceful and blessed!!!) SKMC (Sheikh Khalifa Medical City) and Mafraq Hospital IRBs for granting me permission to conduct the study and using their facilities as the research site; Mr Abbas Hassan, Ms Hanan Taha, Ms Shorouq Al Khatib, Ms Hanan Taha, and Ms Reema Al Mahdi; for their unqualified support and encouragement; Shukran jazeelin!!! Allah yabarek fiek Ms Diana Basa Lim-Guadalupe, Ms Jennifer Williams, Mrs Linda Haskins, and Karen McKenna; for believing in me. They have been my angels; iii My late parents, Mr Aaron and Mrs H Ramasehla; for their monumental love and for instilling the virtues of perseverance, discipline, and gratitude in me; Phaahle le Hunadi! Morena a le segofatše a le boloke (God bless you) My daughter, Mangetane, and granddaughter Leago; for their love, support, and encouragement, during the inordinate days of my solitary confinement to my studies. I love them both without measure; My extended family and friends; for their unflinching support, encouragement, and understanding the reasons for my absence during the many days of our gatherings. All the research participants; for sharing their time, efforts an views regarding the study; The manuscript editor, Dr TJ Mkhonto; for his editorial support and contribution. I THANK YOU ALL SO PROFUSELY!!!! iv LIST OF ACRONYMS USED IN THE STUDY AADON Acting Assistant Director of Nursing AAHSA American Association of Homes and Services for the Aging ADDIE Analysis, Design, Development, Implementation, and Evaluation ADON Assistant Director of Nursing AED Arab Emirates Dirham ANCC American Nurses Credentialing Center BLS Basic Life Support CAP College of American Pathologists CNC Clinical Nurse Coordinator CNEP Continuing Nursing Education Program CRN Clinical Resource Nurse DGN Diploma in General Nursing DHA Dubai Health Authority ED Emergency Department ENTT Ear, Nose, Throat, and Thoracic GNI Graduate Nurse Intern GT Grounded Theory HAAD Health Authority Abu Dhabi HDU High Dependency Unit HRM Human Resources Management IFAS Institute for the Future Aging Services IRB Internal Review Board JCI Joint Commission International MOH Ministry of Health NMC Nursing and Midwifery Council PALS Paediatric Advanced Life Support PICU Pediatric Intensive Care Unit REC Research Ethics Committee RN Registered Nurse SKMC Sheikh Khalifa Medical City SEHA Abu Dhabi Health Service Company UAE United Arab Emirates UAENMC United Arab Emirates Nursing and Midwifery Council UK United Kingdom UMs Unit Managers USA United States of America WHO World Health Organisation v ABSTRACT The nursing profession is premised on the moral and ethical maxim: do unto others as you would they do unto you. Advanced beginner nurses progress to become fully fledged professional nurses as a result of the socialisation, support and nurturing by the proficient and expert counterparts. Socialisation engenders a spirit of brotherhood and sisterhood within the nursing profession. However, there is evidence to suggest that nurses ‘eat their young’. In the event that advanced nurses consider themselves as dinner for the expert nurses, they are inclined to leave the profession due to their real or perceived unpalatable experiences of suffering under the tutelage of the expert nurses. Proceeding from the grounded theory paradigm, the purpose of the study is to explore and describe the extent (if any) to which the role of the clinical resource nurse affects staff retention. The study was conducted at two SEHA (Abu Dhabi Health Service Company) facilities in Abu Dhabi. The study followed a qualitative design that is explorative, descriptive and contextual in nature, with some quantitative aspects developed by means of questionnaires. The purposive non-probability sampling technique was employed in the study, with the sample size comprised of 1 Assistant Director of Nursing; 1 Acting Assistant Director of Nursing; 5 Unit Managers; 3 Clinical Nurse Coordinators; 16 Clinical Resource Nurses; 11 Graduate Nurse Interns; and 14 Registered Nurses. Quantitative data will be collected using semi-structured interviews, as well as open-ended surveys. Data was analysed qualitatively. Guba’s model in Polit & Beck (2012:582) was utilised to ensure trustworthiness of the study. Ethical requirements were considered throughout the study. Findings showed that the responsibility of peer mentoring does not rest solely on the shoulders of the CRN (Clinical Resource Nurse) but is a team effort is a team effort between senior leadership unit managers, CNCs (Clinical Nurse Coordinators) and external stakeholders such as HAAD (Health Authority Abu Dhabi), SEHA, NMC (Nursing and Midwifery Council) and higher education. Key words: clinical resource nurse, peer mentoring, staff retention vi TABLE OF CONTENTS CHAPTER 1: OVERVIEW OF THE STUDY 1 1.1 INTRODUCTION 1 1.2 BACKGROUND OF THE RESEARCH PROBLEM 2 1.2.1 Existing Peer Mentoring and Staff Retention Approach 2 1.3 STATEMENT AND CONTEXT OF THE RESEARCH PROBLEM 3 1.4 AIM/ PURPOSE OF THE STUDY 5 1.4.1 Study Objectives 5 1.5 THE RESEARCH QUESTIONS 6 1.6 SIGNIFICANCE AND RELEVANCE OF THE STUDY 6 1.6.1 Disciplinary/ Epistemological Significance 6 1.6.1.1 Significance to peer mentors 7 1.6.1.2 Significance to nurses in general 7 1.6.2 Institutional/ Organisational Significance 8 1.7 CONCEPTUAL AND THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK OF THE STUDY 8 1.7.1 Definition of Key Concepts 8 1.7.1.1 Clinical Resource Nurse (CRN) 9 1.7.1.2 Graduate Nurse Intern (GNI) 9 1.7.1.3 Mentoring 9 1.7.1.4 Peer 9 1.7.1.5 Peer Mentoring 9 1.7.1.6 Registered Nurse 9 1.7.1.7 Role in Peer Mentoring 10 1.7.1.8 Staff Shortage 10 1.7.1.9 Staff Turnover 10 1.7.2 Assumptions of the Study 10 1.7.2.1 Ontological Assumptions 10 1.7.2.2 Epistemological Assumptions 11 1.7.2.3 Methodological Assumptions 11 1.7.3 Theoretical/Meta-theoretical Grounding 11 1.8 RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS 12 1.9 LIMITATIONS OF THE STUDY 12 1.10 ORGANISATION OF CHAPTERS IN THE STUDY 12 1.11 CONCLUSION 13 CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW 14 2.1 INTRODUCTION 14 2.2 NURSING DYNAMICS IN THE UAE 14 2.2.1 The Cultural Dimension 14 2.2.1.1 Perceived Low Status of the Nursing Profession in the UAE 15 2.2.2 The Organisational/Institutional Environment 16 2.2.2.1 Discrepant Uniformity in Licensing and Regulations 16 2.2.2.2 Limited Career Opportunities 16 2.2.2.3 Nursing Turnover and Nursing Staff Shortages 16 2.2.3 The Individual Psychological Domain 19 2.2.3.1 The Transition Stage 19 2.2.3.2 Interpersonal Relationships Building 20 2.3 PEER MENTORING 21 2.3.1 Seminal Studies in Support of Peer Mentoring 22 2.3.1.1 A Peer Mentoring Model 24 vii 2.3.2 Peer Mentoring Styles 24 2.3.3 The Phases of a Peer Mentoring Relationship 26 2.3.3.1 The Orientation Phase 26 2.3.3.2 The Working Phase 27 2.3.3.3 The Termination Phase 27 2.3.4 Peer Mentor Matching 28 2.3.4.1 Peer Mentor Matching Criteria 29 2.3.4.1.1 Seeking Pair Input During the Matching Process 29 2.3.4.1.2 Compatibility 30 2.3.4.1.3 Variation of Speed Dating 30 2.3.4.1.4 Maximising Social Exchange 31 2.3.5 Peer Mentoring Strategies Impacting on Staff Retention: A Comparative Review 31 2.3.5.1 Agency Preparation for Effective Employee Recruitment and Selection 32 2.3.5.2 Staffing Needs Assessment 32 2.3.5.3 Designing and Implementing Effective Recruitment Strategies 33 2.3.5.4 Designing and Implementing Successful Selection Processes 33 2.3.5.5 Management Capacity Building to Support Staff Retention 33 2.3.5.6 Early Employee Orientation and Induction 33 2.3.5.7 Providing Employee Support to Address Life Changes 33 2.3.5.8 Establishing a Peer Mentorship Programme 33 2.3.5.9 Ensuring Constructive and Effective Coach Supervision 33 2.3.5.10 Offering on-the-job learning for Career Development and and Advancement 34 2.3.5.11 Establishing Worker Participation Infrastructure 34 2.3.5.12 Establishing Worker-Management Oversight Teams 34 2.3.6 Strengths and Weaknesses of Peer Mentoring 34 2.3.6.1 Strengths of Peer Mentoring 34 2.3.6.1.1 Increased Self-confidence 34 2.3.6.1.2 Positive Preceptor Experience 34 2.3.6.1.3 Enhanced Leadership Skills 35 2.3.6.1.4 Reduced Stress 35 2.3.6.1.5 Professional Socialisation 35 2.3.6.2 Weaknesses of Peer Mentoring 35 2.3.6.2.1 Potential Ineffective Pairing Strategies 35 2.3.6.2.2 Inadequate Commitment Levels 35 2.3.6.2.3 Negative Mentor Attitude 35 2.4 CONCLUSION 36 CHAPTER 3: THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK 37 3.1 INTRODUCTION 37 3.2 THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK 37 3.3 APPLICABLE NURSING THEORIES 38 3.3.1 The ADDIE Model 38 3.3.1.1 The Analysis Phase 38 3.3.1.2 The Design Phase 38 3.3.1.3 The Development Phase 38 3.3.1.4 The Implementation Phase 39 3.3.1.5 The Evaluation Phase 39 viii 3.3.2 Benner’s Skill Acquisition Model 39 3.3.2.1 The Novice Stage 39 3.3.2.2 The Advanced Beginner Stage 39 3.3.2.3 The Competent Nurse Stage 40 3.3.2.4 The Proficient Nurse Stage 40 3.3.2.5 The Expert Nurse Stage 40 3.3.3 Peplau’s Interpersonal Relations in Nursing 40 3.3.3.1 The Orientation Phase 40 3.3.3.2 The Work (Contract-Contact) Phase 41 3.3.3.3 The Termination Phase 42 3.3.4 Mulaudzi’s Philosophy of Ubuntu, Cultural Diplomacy, and Mentoring 43 3.3.4.1 Philosophy of Ubuntu 43 3.3.4.2 Cultural Diplomacy 43 3.3.4.3 Mentoring 44 3.4 CONCLUSION 46 CHAPTER 4: RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODOLOGY 47 4.1 INTRODUCTION 47 4.1.1 Key Aspects of Grounded Theory 48 4.2 RESEARCH DESIGN 48 4.2.1 The Qualitative Research Approach 49 4.2.2 Justification for the Qualitative Research Approach 49 4.2.3 Stages in the Qualitative Research Design 49 4.2.3.1 The Conceptual Stage 50 4.2.3.2 The Exploratory Stage 50 4.2.3.3 The Participatory/Consultative Stage 51 4.2.3.4 The Narrative Stage 51 4.2.3.5 The Descriptive and Interpretative Stage 52 4.3 SAMPLING AND SAMPLING PROCEDURES 53 4.3.1 Study Population and Sample Size 53 4.3.1.1 Sample Size 54 4.3.2 The Research Site and Negotiated Entry 54 4.3.3 Sampling Techniques/Methods 55 4.3.4 Sampling Criteria 56 4.3.4.1 Inclusion Criteria 56 4.3.4.2 Exclusion Criteria 56 4.3.5 Some Remarks Concerning Sampling Rationale 57 4.4 DATA COLLECTION 57 4.4.1 Qualitative Data Collection 58 4.4.1.1 Semi-structured Interviews 58 4.4.1.2 Informal Observation of Research Participants 60 4.4.2 Quantitative Data Collection 61 4.4.2.1 Questionnaire Development and Administration 61 4.5 DATA ANALYSIS 63 4.5.1 Open Coding 63 4.5.2 Axial Coding 64 4.5.3 Selective Coding 64 4.5.4 Memos 64 4.6 MEASURES TO ENSURE TRUSTWORTHINESS 64 4.6.1 Credibility 64 4.6.1.1 Prolonged Engagement 65 ix
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