Original Research
Scholarship in nursing: Degree-prepared nurses versus diploma-prepared nurses
Submitted: 10 October 2017 | Published: 11 October 2016
About the author(s)
Lizeth Roets, Department of Health Studies, University of South Africa, Muckleneuk Ridge Campus, South AfricaYvonne Botma, School of Nursing, University of the Free State, South Africa
Cecilna Grobler, School of Nursing, University of the Free State, South Africa
Full Text:
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Aim: The aim of this study being reported here was to establish whether degree-prepared nurses in South-Africa partake more often in scholarly activities than diploma-prepared nurses.
Method: A cross-sectional descriptive design was used. The population was all professional nurses registered with the South African Nursing Council who obtained either a four year degree or four year diploma in nursing. Data were gathered from 479 respondents, using aself-administrative questionnaire.
Results: Three times more nursing educators (n = 19) achieved a degree as first qualification than their colleagues (n = 6) who achieved a diploma as first qualification. All but one (n = 18) nursing educators who obtained a degree as first qualification are educators in the private sector that include both universities as well as nursing colleges of private hospital groups. Data further revealed that most nurse educators and those in managerial positions were degree prepared. More degree prepared nurses than diploma prepared nurses were actively involved in scholarly activities such as research (30,5% compared to 25,5%) andimplementing best practice guidelines (62,2% compared to 55,9%).
Conclusion: The global nursing crisis, nor the nursing profession, will benefit by only training more nurses. The profession and the health care sector need more degree prepared nurses to improve scholarship in nursing.
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Crossref Citations
1. Positioning public nursing colleges in South African higher education: Stakeholders’ perspectives
Zanele P. Zwane, Ntombifikile G. Mtshali
Curationis vol: 42 issue: 1 year: 2019
doi: 10.4102/curationis.v42i1.1885