Factors contributing to absenteeism of pupil nurses in the nursing schools of Capricorn District, Limpopo

Abstract

This study was aimed at determining the factors that contributed to absenteeism of pupil nurses in the nursing schools of Capricorn district in Limpopo Province. A descriptive cross-sectional quantitative design was used to describe factors that contributed to absenteeism of pupil nurses in the nursing schools of Capricorn district. The target population consisted of 124 pupil nurses at two nursing schools in the Capricorn district. Ten pupil nurses from one nursing school were used in a pilot study, but for the main study 114 nurses from both nursing schools were sampled. Systematic sampling was used to select 57 pupil nurses who participated in the study. Data were collected by means of a self-developed questionnaire that comprised 24 items on teaching, course content, learning, assessment and social problems. The Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS, version 18) was used for data analysis. Validity and reliability were ensured by using Cronbach’s test on the pilot study. Ethical clearance was obtained from the Medunsa Research and Ethics Committee, and permission to conduct the study was granted by the Department of Health and Social Development, Limpopo Province. The findings of the study revealed that teaching, course content, learning environment, assessment and social problems were contributory factors to absenteeism of pupil nurses in the nursing schools of the Capricorn district in the Limpopo Province. The study further showed that pupil nurses were absent from classroom and clinical settings due to fear of assessment and attending to social problems. The study recommended the redesigning of nursing education and training in the Capricorn district of the Limpopo Province. The study proposed that appropriate and innovative teaching strategies and support systems be established for pupil nurses.