Promoting a motivational workforce in nursing practice: research

Abstract

The motivation of nurses is a crucial contributing factor to effective health care organisations in South Africa. Major changes are taking place due to the transformation of health services and the migration of nurses in this field. Within this changing environment, nurses might find themselves unfamiliar with their surroundings. This could lead to a lack of involvement and a lack of motivation to participate in the delivery of quality health care. As it was unclear to the as to what the opinions of nurses were regarding their role, and those of nurse managers in addressing nurses' motivational needs in the work situation, this study on motivation was conducted. This study aimed at highlighting the role of the nurse supervisor's and the nurse's role in establishing a motivated nursing corps. An explorative, descriptive, quantitative research project was embarked upon. A purposive, convenience and voluntary sample of 112 nurses attending a second year university course in Health Services Management, was selected to participate in this study. The findings indicate the motivational needs important to nurses. Guidelines were formulated according to which these motivational needs of nurses could be satisfied in future. The purpose of this article is to sensitise nurses and supervisors at all levels of the hierarchy to become more aware of their role in motivating themselves and others in their working environment.


Die motivering van verpleegkundiges is 'n kritiese aangeleentheid wat as bydraend tot effektiewe gesondheidsorgorganisasies in Suid-Afrika gesien kan word. Groot veranderinge is besig om plaas te vind weens transformasie van gesondheidsdienste en die migrasie van verpleegkundiges in hierdie veld. Hierdie veranderende omgewing kan daartoe aanleiding gee dat verpleegkundiges, wat nie meer met hul werksomstandighede vertroud is nie, 'n gebrek aan deelname en 'n gebrek aan motivering kan openbaar om gehaltesorg aan die gemeenskap te lewer. Aangesien dit nie vir die outeur duidelik was watter menings verpleegkundiges huldig aangaande die rol van die verpleegbestuurder en hulle eie rol in die aanspreek van hulle motiveringsbehoeftes in die werksituasie nie, was hierdie studie oor motivering onderneem. Die doel van hierdie studie was om die rol van die verpleegbestuurder en die verpleegkundige se eie rol te beklemtoon in die vasstelling van 'n gemotiveerde verpleegkorps. 'n Verkennende, beskrywende, kwantitatiewe navorsingsprojek is onderneem. 'n Doelgerigte gerieflike en vrywillige steekproef van 112 verpleegkundiges, wat 'n universiteitskursus in die tweede jaar in Gesondheidsdiensbestuur bygewoon het, was geselekteer om in hierdie studie deel te neem. Die bevindinge dui die belangrike motiveringsbehoeftes van verpleegkundiges aan. Riglyne is geformuleer waarvolgens hierdie motiveringsbehoeftes van verpleegkundiges in die toekoms vervul kan word. Die doel van hierdie artikel is om verpleegkundiges en toesighouers op alle vlakke van die hiërargie te sensibiliseer om meer bewus te word van hul rol in die motivering van hulself en ander in hul werksomgewing.


Key words: Motivation, Self-esteem, Self-concept, Interpersonal skills, Direct supervision


(Health SA Gesondheid : interdisciplinary research journal: 2003 8(1): 89-98)