Aspects of the working life of women in the nursing profession in South Africa: survey results

• Published in: Curationis (Pretoria) Vol. 28; no. 2; pp. 51 - 60
• Main Authors: Erasmus, B J, Brevis, T
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: South Africa AOSIS 01.05.2005
• Subjects: Adaptation, Psychological; Adult; Analysis of Variance; Attitude of Health Personnel; Career Mobility; Education, Nursing, Continuing - organization & administration; Female; Health Facility Environment - organization & administration; Humans; Job Satisfaction; Middle Aged; Needs Assessment; Nurse's Role - psychology; Nursing; Nursing Methodology Research; Nursing Staff - education; Nursing Staff - organization & administration; Nursing Staff - psychology; Occupational Health; Organizational Objectives; Professional Autonomy; Salaries and Fringe Benefits; Societies, Nursing - organization & administration; South Africa; Surveys and Questionnaires; Women, Working - education; Women, Working - psychology; Workload; Workplace - organization & administration; Workplace - psychology; South Africa
• ISSN: 0379-8577; 2223-6279
• DOI: 10.4102/curationis.v28i2.946

This article reports on a survey done among nurses registered with the South African Nursing Council. The survey was carried out in the last quarter of 2003. The purpose of the survey was to investigate aspects of the working life of women in the nursing profession in South Africa and to make recommendations on how their working environment could be improved. The important findings were that pay-related issues dominate as the main problem at work. Improving pay scales and being paid according to extra experience, responsibilities and qualifications could improve the nurses' working environment. Furthermore, training opportunities, medical insurance and equal opportunities should be addressed as a matter of urgency. In general, respondents had a positive attitude towards their job, which leaves the impression that nurses still regard their jobs as something they do for the sake of a service to the community and not only for the money they earn.