Experiences of professional nurses regarding shortage of resources at a tertiary hospital in Gauteng Province, South Africa: qualitative study

Abstract

Introduction: The shortage of resources in hospitals is a global problem that includes South Africa. This leads to a situation where most healthcare facilities are unable to perform adequately in their provision of quality patient care. The study aimed to explore and describe Professional Nurses' (PNs) experiences concerning the shortage of resources at a tertiary hospital in Gauteng Province, South Africa. Methods: An Exploratory-Descriptive Qualitative design was used on a sample of 16 PNs, who have worked for two or more years in selected units. To enhance optimum variation and obtain a diverse sample concerning participants’ experiences, the study was conducted in various units at the tertiary hospital under study. Unstructured individual conversation with a grand tour question was used. Tesch’s method was employed to analyse data. Results: The study revealed both negative and positive experiences regarding the deficiency of resources. PNs experienced the following under these four themes: 1) Experiences about lack of material resources; 2) Negative impact of the shortage of resources for patients; 3) Experiences on inadequate number of nurses and support staff; 4) Dealing with the shortage of resources. Conclusions: Appropriate measures should be put in place to ensure that resources are adequate at this tertiary hospital. Medical machinery should be audited monthly and a daily checklist used to document available stock. Appropriate recruitment and retention policies must be implemented by the Human Resource Department to ensure that vacant posts are filled timeously and reduce high staff turnover. Perceptions of patients could be explored related to the unavailability of medicine in healthcare facilities.