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Research Into Nursing Student Attrition Earns Master’s Graduand a cum laude

Research Into Nursing Student Attrition Earns Master’s Graduand a cum laude

A DUT Master of Technology (MTech) in Nursing student, whose research investigated the high attrition of nursing students at the KwaZulu-Natal Nursing College (KZNCN) due to academic challenges they experience with Anatomy and Physiology, graduated cum laude today (Wednesday, 03 September 2014).

Titled: Factors contributing to success in Anatomy and Physiology in first year student nurses in the KZNCN nursing programme, Eleanor Langtree’s research investigated why – despite having had gained entry into the college’s nursing diploma programme by meeting specific admission criteria – student attrition remained high as a result of challenges they (students) face academically with Anatomy and Physiology.

“I work in the field of nursing education and observed that the biggest hurdle for first year students is Anatomy and Physiology and became interested in exploring this challenge,” she said.

The majority of students (86.7%) sampled in the study were Black and 61,3 % were from KwaZulu-Natal’s rural areas. While their training was done in English as a second language, most respondents (78.6%) felt that they were coping well with being taught in English. “However, respondents with English as a first language obtained significantly higher marks in Anatomy and Physiology 1 and there was a good correlation between matriculation English and Anatomy and Physiology 11 results. There was also a good correlation between matriculation Biology/Life Science marks and Anatomy and Physiology 1 marks. Additionally, good performance in Anatomy and Physiology 1 was a positive indicator for success in Anatomy and Physiology 11,” she said, adding that while a significant number of respondents found the academic workload, financial stressors and long working hours stressful, they engaged in positive coping skills to address these difficulties.

Langtree said her research will mainly benefit future prospective students if the KZNCN admission criteria and/or programme can be are adjusted to attract, screen and admit prospective students who have the nursing and personal aptitude to succeed in the programme.

Langtree, the Psychiatric Nursing Science and Social Science Disciplines Head of Department at the Port Shepstone Nursing Campus, worked as a Professional Nurse for 13 years before venturing into nursing education. She initially studied Basic General Nursing and Midwifery diplomas followed by Psychiatric Nursing Science before doing a Bachelor of Arts in Nursing Science, majoring in Education and Administration where she passed with distinction in Education. She also has a certificate course in Advanced Mental Health Nursing.

She said she while her MTech studies were not difficult, they required commitment. If you take it a bit slowly, your supervisors will watch you with a steely eye,” she quipped. “The journey is exciting and keeps one motivated, especially when the chapters fall into sync and start to complement and translate with one another,” she said.

She was thankful to her supervisor; Dr Ayisha Razak and Co-supervisor; Dr Firoza Haffejee, both she described as amazingly experienced, supportive and skilled.

Speaking of her future plans, she said she would love to do a Doctorate. “I am absolutely thrilled (to have completed my MTech cum laude). I did hope to do well, but this is a bonus and wonderful surprise. Our family gathers together this week for the wedding of my eldest daughter. We will celebrate being together. I was fortunate to have enormous back up from my partner Rich, son Pietie and my lovely girls, Sarah and Kate. Together, they have been more than amazing in their generosity of love, spirit and time where my studies were concerned.My colleagues have been enormously supportive and bursting with encouragement. Thank you Vigie, Bona and Mumcy,” she said.

– Sinegugu Ndlovu

Pictured: Eleanor Langtree

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