One respondent did not answer this question. As indicated in Table 4.1, the majority (more than half) of respondents who answered the questionnaire were registered nurses working in the NICU, PICU and CSICU (n=75 or 91.4%). The nursing positions grouped under ‘Other’ (n=4 or 4.8%) included nursing positions of registered nurses who were directly involved in the review of practice standards in the research setting, which included either the programme director, the quality analyst or the computer applications nurse.
Table 4.1: Nursing position
Category Frequency
(f)
Percentage (%)
RN=registered nurse 75 91.4
CHC=clinical nurse coordinator 2 2.4 HN=head nurse/assistant head nurse 1 1.4
0=other 4 4.8
Total n=82 100.0
Question 2: Please indicate the exact number of years that you have worked at KFSHRC-J in your current position. (n=83)
Two respondents did not answer this question. Table 4.2 indicates the number of years that the registered nurses had been employed at the research hospital. The number of respondents (n=21 or 25.9%) who had been employed for two years, while a number of respondents (n=14 or 17.2%) had been employed for three years. There were also a number of respondents (n=11 or 13.5%) who had been employed for four years at the research hospital. The mean number of years that the respondents had worked at KFSHRC-J in their current position was 4.4 years (X=4.4). According to De Vos (2001:216), the mean is ‘the sum of the measurements divided by the amount of measurements’, whereas the mode was 2 years (Mo=2). De Vos (2001:215) defines the mode as ‘the value which occurs most frequently in a distribution’.
Table 4.2: Years at KFSHRC-J Category Frequency (f) Percentage (%) <1 year 2 2.4 1 year 2 2.4 2 years 21 25.9 3 years 14 17.2 4 years 11 13.5 5 years 5 6.1 6 years 6 7.4 7 years 9 11.7 8 years 2 2.4 9years 4 4.9 10 years 2 2.4 >11 years 3 3.7 Total n=81 100.0
Question 3: Please indicate the number of years that you have worked in your unit (in your current position). (n=83)
Five respondents did not answer this question. Table 4.3 indicates the number of years that the registered nurses had been employed in either of the NICU, PICU or CSICU in the research hospital. The number of the respondents (n=22 or 28.2%) had been working in either one of the ICUs for two years, while a number of respondents (n=12 or 15.3%) had been working in one of the three ICUs for three years. The mean number of years that the respondents had worked in the particular unit was 4.5 years (X=4.5), whereas the mode was 2 years (Mo=2).
Table 4.3: Years in unit Category Frequency (f) Percentage (%) <1 year 1 1.2 1 year 4 5.1 2 years 22 28.2 3 years 12 15.3 4 years 8 10.2 5 years 5 6.4 6 years 6 7.6 7 years 9 11.5 8 years 1 1.9 9 years 5 6.4 10years 1 1.2 11 years 3 3.8 12 years 0 0.0 13 years 0 0.0 14 years 0 0.0 >15 years 1 1.2 Total n=78 100.0
It seemed that in question 3 (number of years worked in unit) some of the respondents indicated a higher number of years than the number of years in question 2 (number of years worked at KFSHRC-J). It is possible that these respondents misunderstood the question and filled in the total years of experience in that particular unit, as the years of work in the particular ICU cannot exceed the years of work at the research hospital. It could also be interpreted by the respondents that the number of years of experience could be in the same unit that they are currently working in.
Question 4: Please indicate your highest nursing qualification: (SELECT ONLY ONE OPTION.) (n=83)
Figure 4.1 indicates that as many as 67.0% (n=56) of the ICU registered nurses who took part in this study held a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree, whereas 27.0% (n=22) were registered nurses. Only 5.0% (n=4) of the ICU registered nurses had master’s degrees, while
1.0% (n=1) had a post-graduate qualification. None of the respondents mentioned that they had either a doctoral or other nursing qualification as listed in the questionnaire.
Histogram of Q4.Highest qualification 67% 5% 27% 1% BSN M RN PG Q4.Highest qualification 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 F req uenc y 67% 5% 27% 1%
BSN=nursing degree RN=nursing diploma PG=post-graduate specialisation
M=master’s degree D=doctoral degree O=other
Figure 4.1: Highest nursing qualification
Question 5: Have you completed your check-off exams related to dosage calculation, pharmacology and IV medication administration? (n=83)
Five respondents did not answer this particular question. The majority of the respondents (n=77 or 98.7%) mentioned that they had written the check-off examinations during general nursing orientation. One respondent (n=1 or 1.3%) mentioned that he or she did not write the check-off examinations. However, it is not feasible for any registered nurse to omit writing these mandatory examinations during the general nursing orientation period, since newly employed nursing staff are monitored by the nursing education department with feedback to nursing affairs. All registered nurses working at the research hospital are performance evaluated close to the end of the probation period (first three months of employment). Their performance is documented and monitored through the nursing affairs department and salary benefits are continued if the probation is successfully passed. Therefore it is not feasible that a registered
nurse will continue working in any nursing unit of the research hospital if these examinations are not passed. From these findings it seems as if the particular respondent may have either misinterpreted the question or may not have known what the examinations are called.
Question 6: Please indicate whether you are working in the unit that corresponds with your area of specialty. (n=83)
One respondent did not answer this particular question. A total of 95.2% respondents (n=78) mentioned that they were working in the ICU that corresponds with their area of specialty (based on experience and/or training); whereas three respondents (3.6%) reported that they were not working in their area of specialty. One respondent (1.2%) selected the option ‘Other’ which indicates ‘student’. If only one has a post-graduate qualification, this is maybe interpreted by the respondents as not an easy question to answer. Or it could mean that some RNs are not working in their original area of specialty. The researcher is familiar with an educational programme at the research hospital, during which RNs are trained to work in the ICUs, if an RN wishes to apply for a transfer. Unfortunately, this data is not available to the researcher to draw comparison with due to the confidentiality of the research hospital’s data.
Question 7: Please indicate whether you are currently in your unit orientation period or probation period. (n=83)
Two respondents did not answer this particular question. None of the respondents were in their unit orientation period at the time of data collection, whereas only 3.7% (n=3) ICU registered nurses were in their probation period. The majority of neonatal and paediatric ICU registered nurses who completed the questionnaires (n=78 or 96.3%) were employed on an annual contractual basis.