PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

A Minnaar

Publications and source records attributed to A Minnaar.

9 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Use of gamma-irradiation to reduce high levels of Staphylococcus aureus on casein-whey protein coated moist beef biltong.

Moist beef biltong strips (mean moisture content = 53.6%, NaCl content = 1.91% and a(w) = 0.979) was inoculated with Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 9441 (10(6)-10(7) cfu/g), or sprayed with distilled water (non-inoculated controls). Both non-inoculated and inoculated biltong strips were coated with a casein-whey protein (1:1) edible coating followed by irradiation to a target dose of 4 kGy. S. aureus, aerobic plate, yeast and mould counts were performed to determine the effect of gamma-irradiation and the edible coating on inoculated S. aureus and the spoilage flora of the biltong. Moisture and NaCl content, a(w) and pH measurements were also performed. None of the intrinsic properties were affected to a practically significant extent. Irradiation reduced all microbial counts (P < 0.05), i.e. inoculated S. aureus (6 log cycles), aerobic plate count (5-6 log cycles) and yeast and mould counts (1-2 log cycles). Irradiation at 4 kGy is thus effective to ensure safety of moist beef biltong, and provided that initial fungal counts are not excessive, may extend the shelf-life. The edible coating had no significant effect (P > 0.05) on microbial counts, possibly because the high moisture content of the biltong diminished its oxygen barrier properties.

Animals↗
PubMed2005

HIV/AIDS issues in the workplace of nurses.

UNLABELLED: HIV/AIDS is a global problem with an estimated 40 million infected people. In less than two years, this figure will leap to 100 million according to the World Health Organisation (WHO). By 2005, 65 million people will be infected. Half of the number of people in this group will be under 25 years old, and will die before they reach the age of 35. In a South African study done by the Human Science Research Council and published in 2003, regarding the impact of HIV/AIDS on the health sector, the findings were that 15% of health workers in public and private hospitals tested positive for HIV antibodies. Together with these facts above it was found that 46.2 percent of patients served in medical and paediatric wards tested positive for HIV. These factors have major implication for staffing in the future and the role of the nurse manager in South Africa. THE AIM OF THE STUDY: To explore the management of HIV/AIDS in the workplace of nurses in selected health services in KwaZulu-Natal. This research was part of a greater study on the exploration of the presence of caring as part of nursing management. THE METHODOLOGY: The qualitative research approach was used with a phenomenological design, which ensured that the richness and the complexities are reflected in the study. The data was collected by means of an open-ended question to nurse managers during an interview. The first question posed was; How do you or your services care for nurses in this hospital? Secondly nurse managers were asked, To explain their role in caring for HIV/AIDS positive nurses on their staff establishment. THE RESULTS: A qualitative analysis of the interviews with nurse managers indicated that they rate HIV/AIDS issues as an important part of their management task. Four main themes were identified, namely HIV/AIDS, counselling, dying of AIDS and funerals. Rich descriptions of these themes are given in this paper. Nurse managers in the health services are managing HIV/AIDS affected nurses, but are doing so without any formal policy on HIV/AIDS in the workplace. It is recommended that nurse managers deal with HIV/AIDS issues in the workplace by raising HIV/AIDS awareness regarding HIV/AIDS issues and HIV/AIDS in the workplace. CONCLUSIONS: Nurse managers saw their role regarding nurses with HIV/AIDS mainly as supportive--being involved in family problems and counselling and guiding nurses that live with HIV/AIDS. The health services in KwaZulu-Natal, and especially nurses, are currently affected by HIV/AIDS in a significant way.

Absenteeism↗
PubMed2004

The perceptions of nurses in a district health system in KwaZulu-Natal of their supervision, self-esteem and job satisfaction.

BACKGROUND: Supervision has been identified as a major issue in quality of care. Although increasing attention is being given to supervision in the District Health System, there have been no studies describing the current situation. This article describes a survey done in two health districts in KwaZulu-Natal involving 319 nurses from all types of government health care settings. METHODS: This was a quantitative descriptive study that described the current supervision, job satisfaction and self-esteem in two (2) health districts, that is the Ugu and the uThukela health districts. The three variables were described using a mailed questionnaire. A total 319 nurses participated in this study. RESULTS: The majority of the nurses (53%) felt that positive supervision behaviours listed in a rating scale, occurred never or seldom. The average self-esteem score was very positive (83%), and the average job satisfaction score was 60%. Nurses were most satisfied with the factor reflecting "personal satisfaction about their contribution to the work" (72%) and the least satisfaction with the factor that has to do with "pay and prospects" (50%). While there was no relationship between any of the demographic variables and supervision, there was a low but significant relationship between supervision and job-satisfaction. A significant relationship was also found between the personal satisfaction factor of job satisfaction and self-esteem. CONCLUSION: As nurses form the backbone of the health services, it is incumbent that health service managers safeguard the nursing workforce. Targeted strategies are necessary to ensure retention of the nurses for the health care of the South African population.

Adult↗
PubMed2003

The views of nurses regarding caring in the workplace.

This survey describes caring in the workplace in selected health services and is part of a greater study conducted in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. This study describes the views of nurse managers and nurses regarding caring in the workplace. Human competence, recovery and healing are central to caring. To ensure caring and healing of patients in health services it is of the utmost importance for nurse managers to ensure a healthy and caring environment in the management of nurses. When caring is present in the workplace, nurses are more able to render caring nursing practices in the patient care environment. It is clear that to become a caring person, one must be treated in a caring way and that caring may be impaired or reinforced by the environment. The environment of interest to this study was the environment in which nurses practise. A descriptive survey with a convenience sampling explored caring in the workplace of nurses. The questionnaire was divided into two sections. Section A comprised demographic information and in section B the questionnaire consisted of Likert type questions, open-ended questions and yes/no questions. Analysis included descriptive statistics. It was found that caring was not experienced in the hospitals by nurses in the major management tasks such as respect for human dignity, two-way communication, trust between nurses and nurse managers, wellness, cultural sensitivity, support and the recognition and handling of the concerns of nurses. It was clear that although nurse managers and nurses have the knowledge and structures for the implementation of caring in the hospitals, the everyday practical application of caring needs attention. Nurse managers were aware of caring practices but nurses did not always experience caring in their places of work in the hospitals. Nurse managers and nurses should all accept responsibility for finding means to improve communication and, in particular, participative leadership strategies in the hospitals. Previous research showed that a large majority of nurses agreed on which caring concepts were important aspects in nursing management.

Attitude of Health Personnel↗
PubMed2002

A framework for caring in the human resource management process of nurses.

The aim of this paper is to describe the provision of a human value system in nursing management that would lead to an environment conducive to quality of care to nurses. Caring is a complex phenomenon with caring concepts which emphasized the human element in human resource management in the health services. Watson (1985) focused on the philosophical and spiritual basis of caring. The ten carative factors as described by Watson (1985) were used as a framework for the application of caring to the human resource management process in nursing. This framework enables a basis for the development of a caring environment for the nurse manager, in which the nurse could experience caring. It served as a point of departure for a research study undertaken during 2000 on caring to the caregivers in health services.

Attitude of Health Personnel↗
PubMed2001

Caring for the caregivers--a nursing management perspective.

The aim of the study was to explore the practice of caring for the caregivers in selected hospitals in KwaZulu-Natal. A qualitative research approach was used to ensure that the complexities of caring were reflected in the study. The qualitative analysis of the interviews with nurse managers and nurses indicated that they saw caring as an important part of their management task. The participants in the study saw caring for nurses mainly as dealing with the interpersonal aspects of nurses. Caring for nurses was further described in terms of solving the personal problems of nurses, promoting the development and growth needs of nurses with the focus, mainly, on the educational needs of the organisation itself, the welfare needs of nurses with specific reference to their family needs and responsibilities, and a major emphasis on HIV/AIDS issues arising amongst nurses themselves.

Empathy↗
PubMed1997

[Nursing personnel and the concept of care: a nursing administrative viewpoint].

In this article the importance of caring in nursing management was researched. A survey was undertaken between 1992 and 1994 with the purpose to investigate viewpoints of nurse managers and experiences of nurses regarding caring concepts. The data was collected by means of a questionnaire consisting of an adjusted Nyberg Caring Assessment Scale (Nyberg 1989) and other caring concepts selected from the literature. The survey was conducted among respondents of private hospitals in Pretoria. It was clear from the data analysis that nurse managers and nurses regarded caring as an important concept in nursing management. Perceptions of nurse managers regarding caring concepts and the experiences of nurses on caring in nursing management, differed substantially. It was clear that nurse managers and nurses experienced a need for training with regard to caring in nursing management.

Attitude of Health Personnel↗
PubMed1990

[What does the future require of nurse administrators in private hospitals?].

Specialisation inside a modern private hospital is on the increase with important implications for the nurse administrator of today. A change in objectives for effective services and quality care to meet population needs is required. The nurse administrator should give attention to important aspects like leadership styles, loyalties, services, technology and specialised knowledge.

Forecasting↗