Azwihangwisi Helen Mavhandu-Mudzusi
University of South Africa South Africa
Title: Community service nurses’ experiences at Tshwane District Public Hospital: South Africa
Biography:
Azwihangwisi Helen Mavhandu-Mudzusi is Full Professor at the University of South Africa. She is NRF C rated researcher and the winner of 2017 Distinguished Women Scientist Award. She was an HIV/AIDS coordinator at the University of Venda immediately prior, where she trained students and educators in basic HIV/AIDS information. She also trained educators in Limpopo Province in basic HIV/AIDS counselling skills for orphans and vulnerable children and is deeply involved in rural community service work, which includes HIV/AIDS awareness campaigns at rural secondary schools, churches and orphanages.
Helen is a fellow of M.A.C. AIDS Fund Leadership initiative at Columbia University, the University of California and the Human Sciences Research Council of South Africa.
She holds several diplomas, advanced diplomas and degrees in nursing, including an Honours and master’s degree. She is deeply involved in the advocacy and support for Lesbians, Gays, Bisexual, Transgender and Intersex (LGBTI) students in rural institutions of Higher Learning
Abstract:
Purpose: The South African Nursing Council requires every newly qualified professional nurse to perform remunerated community service in a public hospital for a period of one year. However, most newly qualified professional nurses request to be transferred to other hospitals before the end of their placement term. The study purpose was to gain the understanding of community service nurses experiences at Tshwane district Public hospital in South Africa.
Methods: The study utilised interpretative phenomenological analysis design. Semi-structured interviews were conducted to collect data from eleven purposively sampled community service nurses. Data were analysed using Smith’s interpretative phenomenological analysis framework for data analysis.