Nursing in a New Era: The Profession and Education of Nurses in South Africa

Abstract

The nursing profession in South Africa today is in need of care. Thousands of nurses have left the country, either temporarily or permanently, to seek better conditions abroad. Those who remain face increasingly demanding workloads as HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis (TB) take their toll. Although many young people choose to study nursing and applications for nursing education programmes far outnumber available places, the profession itself is not growing in proportion. Attrition, both during and after training, is high, and two-thirds of all practising nurses are over the age of 40. At the same time, the image and status of nursing is low. Once regarded as an elite profession for women, it is now overshadowed by other more attractive and lucrative careers. Yet nursing remains the foundation of healthcare in South Africa and needs to be nurtured and strengthened if the country is to overcome the health challenges facing it. This monograph aims to contribute to the future development of the profession by presenting in detail the trends outlined above and suggesting possible causes and solutions. This study of nursing forms part of the HSRC’s Professions and Professional Education research project in which a number of professions are being researched with the aim of addressing this question: How is this profession and its professional education programmes responding to the needs and challenges of a transforming South Africa?