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LOOK AT THE JOURNEY AS MAKING A DIFFERENCE TO THE HEALTH CARE SECTOR!

LOOK AT THE JOURNEY AS MAKING A DIFFERENCE TO THE HEALTH CARE SECTOR!

The Durban University of Technology’s (DUT’s) Dr Jessie Chetty is graduating with her second PHD, in the field of Health Sciences, at DUT’s Virtual Autumn Graduation 2021 on Thursday, 27 May 2021.  

Dr Chetty was thrilled to be obtaining her second PHD, which she said had been a very fruitful journey. 

“I believe this is due to my supervisor and my co-supervisor whom worked around the clock with me to meet the expectations of the academic work. The PhD emotionally grew me and it is a subject that I am passionate about hence, it has added value to my organisation and will add value to all nurses from the global perspective facing same issues,” she said. 

She has been a Nursing Director from November 2013, almost eight years to date, in Saudi Arabia. Her goals all achieved at home now, she plans to leave in 2023 which will be full 10 years’ service in Saudi Arabia.  

Dr Chetty gave more insight into her topic titled: A COMPREHENSIVE HEALTH CARE MANAGERIAL FRAMEWORK THAT EXPLICATES THE MANNER IN WHICH WORKLOAD FACTORS INFLUENCE NURSES’ WELL-BEING: A CASE STUDY OF A SAUDI ARABIAN HOSPITAL. 

Explaining why she chose such a topic, Dr Chetty conveyed that working in Saudi Arabia as an expatriate the need for such topic is important because most nurses work there for tax free salary. 

“However, the nurses are just numbers to fill the gap and the emotional needs and behavioural factors not considered within the organisation. There is no well-being programme and this factor is not a priority within the healthcare organisations and this needs more attention within the healthcare sector in Saudi Arabia,” she said.  

She highlighted that the aim of the study was to determine the various workload factors that influence the well-being of ICU nurses working in a Saudi Arabian Hospital and to develop a comprehensive healthcare managerial framework that explicates the way workload factors influence nurses’ well-being. 

“The shortage of specialised intensive care unit (ICU) nurses is a workload factor that negatively influences the provision of quality nursing care by compromising workplace productivity and job satisfaction. Work pressures are evident in health systems throughout the world, where there is growing concern over a nursing shortage in relation to the country’s disease profile, population increases, chronic disease growth and increased life expectancies,” she said. 

She further added that although workload plays a fundamental role in staff and patient well-being, minimal research has been conducted on the evaluation of workload effects and its impact on nurses’ well-being among Saudi Arabian ICU nurses. 

Dr Chetty indicated that the findings from the study were aligned to the Job Demand Resource (JDR) Model and provided evidence that ICU nurses experienced various workload factors that influenced their well-being and productivity. 

“It was found that the high job demands cause strain and health impairment, which are associated with decreased job satisfaction of staff working in the ICUs of Saudi Arabian hospitals. The proposed framework can be utilised as an interactive tool that will set out clear actionable steps, providing ongoing guidelines on how healthcare organisations should plan and implement suitable workloads, efficiently and effectively, to ensure staff health and well-being,” she said. 

Despite her working abroad in Saudi Arabia, Dr Chetty elaborated how she managed to juggle studying, family life and her career, especially in a foreign country, and whilst being in the midst of a pandemic. 

“I believe that work-life balance is important and this is only possible with strong family support and my two kids are my pillar of strength. 

The contributing factors to my studies is commitment and I am very ambitious and a focused individual that has been studying for more than 20 years of my nursing career. I consider this a hobby and at the same time seeking and exploring new knowledge as learning is an ongoing process and in healthcare this is important to continuously explore new knowledge for implementation in the clinical areas,” she said. 

She did stress that COVID-19 did add more strain to her job expectations, however with no family she managed her studies as a coping mechanism during the pandemic and that what has brought her through the year. 

“Also, spiritually God has been my strength during the dark hours and frustrations. Thank you to my supervisors, DUT’s Deputy Vice Chancellor: Teaching and Learning, Prof Nokuthula Sibiya and Dr Naidoo who also pushed me to the limits for success and their commitment and trust and believe in me as a person,” she said.   

Speaking on role models, she said that God blessed her with two great women that are so focused and passionate about their job, not only academically, she has learnt but professionally they have given her wisdom and inspired her in the research field and today she can say she has two role models, Prof Sibiya and Dr Naidoo. 

Her advice to current and future Health Science students who want to follow in her footsteps is to never underestimate a nurse’s abilities, the sky is the limit and never focus on getting any qualification just to get a better job or for promotion; look at the journey as making a difference to the health care sector and adding value with systems processes and outcomes for better care outcomes. 

“Research is something every nurse should embark on and encourage future scholars to take the challenge because it is worth the academic qualification to grow you emotionally academically and professionally,” she said proudly. 

Pictured: Dr Jessie Chetty 

Waheeda Peters 

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