The effect of quality assurance nurse managers on the provision of patient care at selected public hospitals in the Limpopo Province

Abstract

Patient and public criticism of care in many South African public hospitals has resulted in negative media reports. The purpose of the study was to determine the effect of appointing Quality Assurance Nurse Managers (QANMs) on the provision of quality patient care in selected public hospitals of the Limpopo Province and to make recommendations where appropriate. The study was quantitative, exploratory and descriptive in nature. Data was collected by means of a self-developed questionnaire from 112 respondents, consisting of 10 QANMs and 102 Quality Assurance Team members (QAT). The response rate was 100% for the QANMs and 57% for the QAT members. The study found that most of the ten selected hospitals have a good QA foundation with a vision, mission and goals, QA programme and manual. Moreover, the appointment of the QANMs had a positive impact on the nursing care. Regarding the improvement and change in the provision of nursing care, the majority of the respondents indicated that patients’ complaints about nursing care had declined considerably; the in-service training assisted in improving nursing care, and patients were nursed in totality because of the quality guidelines in the QA manuals. However, the study found that the shortage of equipment, which interferes with the delivery of quality patient care, is a serious problem that hinders the QA programme and needs to be tackled. Recommendations were made for practice and further research.