Exploring support needs of registered nurses working in a neonatal intensive care unit in the Tshwane District Gauteng Province

Abstract

Background: Registered nurses in a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit are working under a stressful environment. In response to a stressful environment, there is a need to know their support needs to promote a positive working environment. However, the support needs of registered nurses in Neonatal Intensive Care Units have not been explored and described in the Tshwane District, Gauteng province. Aim: Therefore, this study explored and described support needs for registered nurses working in a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit situated in the Tshwane District of the Gauteng province. Research design and methods: A qualitative, exploratory, descriptive and contextual design was used in this study. The population of this study comprised of 15 registered nurses working in a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit of a selected hospital in the Tshwane District, Gauteng Province, South Africa. However, the data saturation was reached after interviewing six participants and three more interviews were done to make sure that the interviewer has reached data saturation. The inclusion criteria of those registered nurses were those who had been working in Neonatal Intensive Care Unit for one year or more. Other categories of medical professionals like doctors, physiotherapist and or dieticians were excluded in this study. In-depth unstructured interviews were conducted during data collection and data was analysed following thematic analysis. Ethical approval from the University of Pretoria and an approval letter from the Department of Health were received prior to conducting the study. Results: The research results of the study revealed five themes of support needs of registered nurses working in a NICU situated in the Tshwane District of the Gauteng Province. Those support needs are fair leadership management, management intervention, teamwork, staff development and availability of resources within the workplace. Significance of the study: The study results provided an understanding of the support needs of registered nurses which might enable the unit manager to plan strategies that can be used to address the nurse's needs, which could promote quality care for neonates admitted in that Unit. In addition, the health care institution might benefit from the study as it might assist them to care for registered nurses through addressing their needs, thus retaining their staff members working in the NICU.