Community service nurses in primary healthcare clinics: Experiences of supervision and support from professional nurses

Abstract

Background: Newly qualified nurses in South Africa are required to undertake a compulsory 1-year community service (CS) in a public healthcare facility. They are not yet competent to work alone and require supervision and support from senior professional nurses.

Aim: This study aimed to explore and describe the experiences of community service nurses (CSNs) regarding supervision and support from professional nurses at primary healthcare clinics (PHC).

Setting: The study was conducted with CSNs who were working in PHC clinics in Nelson Mandela Bay (NMB).

Methods: A qualitative, explorative, descriptive and contextual study was conducted using semi-structured interviews with 10 CSNs. Purposive sampling was used. Data were analysed using Tesch’s coding method of content analysis.

Results: Two themes and six sub-themes emerged, the key themes being participants’ diverse needs related to CS placement at PHC clinics and participants’ social interaction with the professional nurses during CS.

Conclusion: Supervision and support for the CSNs during their CS rotation was inadequate at most clinics in this study. Recommendations, based on findings, were made for an improved CS experience and further research.

Contribution: The CSNs require supervision and support in the CS year, particularly in PHC clinics, clearly presented in this study. The findings of the study can be used to improve the experience of CS for CSNs in the PHC setting in NMB.