Challenges faced by mental health nurses working with people living with mental illness in Eswatini: A qualitative study
Background: Research on the challenges faced by mental health nurses working in poorly resourced settings, especially in Eswatini, is limited. As a result, we conducted this study to explore and describe the challenges faced by mental health nurses working with people living with mental illness in E...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2022-01-01
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| Series: | International Journal of Africa Nursing Sciences |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214139122000828 |
| _version_ | 1797985369187155968 |
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| author | Phetsile G. Zwane Mduduzi Colani Shongwe Fortunate S. Shabalala |
| author_facet | Phetsile G. Zwane Mduduzi Colani Shongwe Fortunate S. Shabalala |
| author_sort | Phetsile G. Zwane |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: Research on the challenges faced by mental health nurses working in poorly resourced settings, especially in Eswatini, is limited. As a result, we conducted this study to explore and describe the challenges faced by mental health nurses working with people living with mental illness in Eswatini. Methods: The study employed a qualitative approach, using an exploratory-descriptive design and the data were collected from nine (9) purposively selected mental health nurses at the National Psychiatric Referral Hospital (NPRH). A majority (n = 7) of the participants had bachelors’ degrees and were female (n = 5), with a mean of 6 years working experience in a mental health setting. The data were collected using an unstructured interview guide through audio-recorded individual in-depth-interviews, and were analysed manually using Colaizzi’s method of phenomenological analysis. Results: Five themes emerged from the data: i) physical violence; ii) sexual harassment iii) emotional distress due to verbal abuse; iv) stigma and discrimination; and v) administrative challenges (drug stock-outs, staff shortage, overcrowding, and inadequate infrastructure and medical equipment). Conclusion: The mental health nurses shared several challenges they encounter on their day-to-day job, including physical, psychological and administrative challenges. There is a need for the Ministry of Health working with the Wellness Centre for health workers to design staff wellness programs aimed at mitigating work-related stress and challenges faced by mental health nurses. The Ministry of Health and the NPRH administration should put in place safety measures at the NPRH and should devise a management strategy to tackle the administrative challenges raised by the nurses in this study. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-11T07:15:53Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-b78be023fbfa4f4ca6daed61dcc65b44 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2214-1391 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-11T07:15:53Z |
| publishDate | 2022-01-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | International Journal of Africa Nursing Sciences |
| spelling | doaj.art-b78be023fbfa4f4ca6daed61dcc65b442022-12-22T04:37:57ZengElsevierInternational Journal of Africa Nursing Sciences2214-13912022-01-0117100475Challenges faced by mental health nurses working with people living with mental illness in Eswatini: A qualitative studyPhetsile G. Zwane0Mduduzi Colani Shongwe1Fortunate S. Shabalala2Department of Nursing, Faculty of Health Sciences, Southern Africa Nazarene University, Manzini, EswatiniDepartment of Midwifery Science, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Eswatini, Mbabane, Eswatini; International Health Program, Institute of Public Health, School of Medicine, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan; Corresponding author at: Department of Midwifery Science, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Eswatini, P.O. Box 369, Mbabane (H100), Eswatini.Department of Community Health Nursing Science, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Eswatini, Mbabane, EswatiniBackground: Research on the challenges faced by mental health nurses working in poorly resourced settings, especially in Eswatini, is limited. As a result, we conducted this study to explore and describe the challenges faced by mental health nurses working with people living with mental illness in Eswatini. Methods: The study employed a qualitative approach, using an exploratory-descriptive design and the data were collected from nine (9) purposively selected mental health nurses at the National Psychiatric Referral Hospital (NPRH). A majority (n = 7) of the participants had bachelors’ degrees and were female (n = 5), with a mean of 6 years working experience in a mental health setting. The data were collected using an unstructured interview guide through audio-recorded individual in-depth-interviews, and were analysed manually using Colaizzi’s method of phenomenological analysis. Results: Five themes emerged from the data: i) physical violence; ii) sexual harassment iii) emotional distress due to verbal abuse; iv) stigma and discrimination; and v) administrative challenges (drug stock-outs, staff shortage, overcrowding, and inadequate infrastructure and medical equipment). Conclusion: The mental health nurses shared several challenges they encounter on their day-to-day job, including physical, psychological and administrative challenges. There is a need for the Ministry of Health working with the Wellness Centre for health workers to design staff wellness programs aimed at mitigating work-related stress and challenges faced by mental health nurses. The Ministry of Health and the NPRH administration should put in place safety measures at the NPRH and should devise a management strategy to tackle the administrative challenges raised by the nurses in this study.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214139122000828ChallengesMental health nursingPsychiatryPsychiatric nursingEswatini |
| spellingShingle | Phetsile G. Zwane Mduduzi Colani Shongwe Fortunate S. Shabalala Challenges faced by mental health nurses working with people living with mental illness in Eswatini: A qualitative study International Journal of Africa Nursing Sciences Challenges Mental health nursing Psychiatry Psychiatric nursing Eswatini |
| title | Challenges faced by mental health nurses working with people living with mental illness in Eswatini: A qualitative study |
| title_full | Challenges faced by mental health nurses working with people living with mental illness in Eswatini: A qualitative study |
| title_fullStr | Challenges faced by mental health nurses working with people living with mental illness in Eswatini: A qualitative study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Challenges faced by mental health nurses working with people living with mental illness in Eswatini: A qualitative study |
| title_short | Challenges faced by mental health nurses working with people living with mental illness in Eswatini: A qualitative study |
| title_sort | challenges faced by mental health nurses working with people living with mental illness in eswatini a qualitative study |
| topic | Challenges Mental health nursing Psychiatry Psychiatric nursing Eswatini |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214139122000828 |
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