Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Nurse's Role – psychology'

Increased levels of stress in the workplace have led the American Psychological Association to predict a looming public health crisis. Critical care nurses (CCNs) are highly exposed to stressors in the workplace, more than other nurses. Tens of billion dollars were reported lost in productive work time yearly due to ill health from depression alone. An important gap remains in understanding the relationships of stressors with the amount of stress. Supported by the biopsychosocial stress theory, the purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between frequencies of perceived stressors (IVs) as a source of perceived levels of stress (DV) or allostasis. The mixed-methods study included an online questionnaire and an e-mail interview of 400 hospital-based CCNs from professional nurses' associations in the United States. The Nursing Stress Scale was used to determine the kinds and frequencies of IVs, while the Psychological Stress Measure was used to assess the DV. Multiple regression analysis assessed the strength and direction of the relationships between IVs and DV. Interviews fell short of the minimum sample size for saturation and were not analyzed. Quantitative findings indicated workload as the most frequently perceived stressor, correlating positively with allostasis (p = .0005). Death and dying, conflict with other nurses, and lack of support for CCNs were also statistically significant (p < .05). Implications to practice and social change include promoting changes in policy with management support to reduce workload, death and dying, conflict with other nurses, and lack of social support for CCNs. Personal behavior changes like relaxation and physical exercises as coping methods may also reduce levels stress.

Psychosocial care for patients with cancer is aimed at detection, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of psychological distress (PD). PD is a universal clinical phenomenon experienced by at least 38% of patients with cancer, yet only10% are identified as having PD. Nurses are presumed providers of psychosocial care, yet no research examined what nurses perceive as their role in caring for patients with cancer, and whether nurses believe that providing psychosocial care to patients with cancer is within their role. Patient care that rests on assumptions is too precarious; nurses' role beliefs are critical in light of their impact on practice and psychological distress. Accordingly, a multinational sample of 10 nurses was snowball recruited for this focus group study to discuss prior research findings on psychological distress and the role of the nurse. Lazarus's cognitive motivational relational theory informed the study. Discussion narratives were coded for psychosocial care, role beliefs, barriers, and solutions. Provider domains were analyzed using Burnard's content thematic analysis method. Results indicated that nurses' role beliefs could not be determined as a barrier to psychosocial care; providing psychosocial care for all patients in all diagnoses was claimed as fundamental nursing work. However, nurses' current psychosocial care practice may fail to detect, treat, or prevent psychological distress, even in the absence of structural barriers. Nurses' psychosocial care appears to lack reflection on its clinical significance. Implications for social change include improving psychosocial care for patients and survivors of cancer that could result in improvements in quality of life.

Given the sad state of obesity and lifestyle-related illnesses in the US, nurses, as the largest and most trusted health profession, must take the cause of health promotion seriously and personally. This study seeks to close the gap in knowledge of nurses’ perception of self as a role model of health and personal healthy lifestyle behaviors. This study focuses on four specific behaviors that lead to a healthy lifestyle: limit alcohol, avoid tobacco, improve nutrition, and engage in physical activity. The purpose of this study is to determine the relationship between nurses’ health practices and their perceptions of self as role models for health promotion using constructs of the Social Cognitive Theory. The final sample consisted of 804 registered nurses in the state of Tennessee. In this study, 4% report smoking, 24.9% drink alcohol, 34% are overweight and 30% obese. Approximately 70% do not meet the weekly physical activity recommendations of 150-minutes and 32.8% follow guidelines for a healthy diet only 50% of the time or less. There was a significant correlation between following a healthy diet or physical activity and the Self as a Role Model of Health Promotion (SARMHEP) scores. Based on the regression analysis, working in an acute care or ambulatory setting negatively affected the SARMHEP, as opposed to age and gender having a positive effect on the SARMHEP score. This study has the potential to provide key information that can be used to promote health among nurses.

Includes bibliographical references (leaves 74-87).
Absenteeism in the nursing profession poses a serious threat to South African health care institutions (Samdi, 2000; McHugh, 2001). This research investigated the association between role stress, and the impact thereof on nurse absence frequency, voluntary and involuntary absence. Data was collected from 230 nurses (N = 230) in the Western Cape using a structured self-report survey. Statistical analysis of the results revealed that constant change and resource scarcity were weak yet significant predictors of nurse absence frequency. The remaining role stress constructs had no influence on the outcome variables. A major finding of the research was that the association between the role stress constructs and absenteeism amongst public sector nurses was weak. Two possible reasons for these findings were explored, the first being a measurement error associated with self-report data in absenteeism research. The second involved questions raised about the theoretical model on which the research question was based. Implications for theory and practice were discussed and recommendations for future research, provided

This thesis describes the experiences of nurses and midwives working in metropolitan hospitals who cared for a significant other in their role of employment. The absence of research directly related to this topic guided the exploration of individuals’ experiences to establish base line knowledge relating to this phenomenon. This study used descriptive research to provide information relating to the personal and professional effects on nurses who were required to, chose to or had no choice but to care for a significant other in their role of employment. An on-line survey gathered demographic, Likert scale responses to evaluate impact on care, and personal narratives to describe and reflect on their experiences. Nurses’ recollections showed that nurses personalise the importance of patient outcomes, are distracted from the usual daily plan and alter their normal decision making processes. Personal effects included role confusion due to the concurrent nurse/patient/significant other relationships resulting in exhaustion and guilt. All of these effects lead to alteration in stress levels experienced by the nurse as a consequence of caring for a significant other in the role of employment.

Background: Present literature highlights early years as an important phase of child development. Whilst Educational Psychologists have a role within early years, there is little research to state what this looks like and how it is conducted in practice. Therefore, this research considers the role an Educational Psychologist could take within an early years setting and explores the variety of work they could conduct. Participants: One early years setting from the researcher’s current Local Authority was used for this research. A total of 33 participants were involved including 11 early years staff, eight Educational Psychologists, 13 parents/carers and a Health Visitor. Methods: This study describes an academic year long Action Research (Tripp, 2003) project with the use of a Research and Development in Organisations framework (Timmins, Shepherd & Kelly, 2003). This included pre-model questionnaires, interviews with early years staff, a focus group with Educational Psychologists and a further focus group with early years staff in order to develop an initial model of educational psychology practice. Work was then completed by the researcher as part of the model of practice. Discrete pieces of work were evaluated via questionnaires, while the project as a whole was evaluated via post-model questionnaires, focus group, interview and researcher diary. Analysis/Findings: Quantitative data were summarised using descriptive statistics and qualitative data were transcribed and a thematic analysis applied. Within this study, the researcher developed a model of practice based on the needs of the setting that included being more frequently involved with casework and conducting work specifically aimed at supporting staff and parents/carers. Additionally, there were discrepancies found in the value placed by participants upon the different pieces of the work as well as the overall approach taken. Conclusion/Implications: This research suggests that there is a greater role for Educational Psychologists within early years, involving more than conducting casework but through providing a more holistic and intensive approach to supporting staff and parents/carers. This supports the existing limited literature as well as advocating a more extensive role for them within early intervention services.

Background: With the current nursing shortage there are fewer experienced nurses and more newly licensed registered nurses (NLRNs) in the workplace. This shortage may be due in part to inconsistencies between role expectations learned in school and the practice environment. These inconsistencies may make it challenging to transition from nursing school into professional healthcare organizations. Nurses with certain person-level traits, including resilience and emotional intelligence, may be more likely to make a successful transition into practice. Findings may improve our understanding of what person-level traits are important for making the successful transition to the workforce.

Purpose: The current study explored whether emotional intelligence (EI) and resilience influenced transition into professional roles.

Theoretical Framework: Understanding how cultural shock and adaptation are challenging for many NLRNs is important. Duchscher transition theory provided an overview of how NLRNs engaged in the professional practice role as they are confronted with the realities of the work environment.

Methods: A non-experimental research design with descriptive cross-sectional study is used to determine if EI and resilience have any effect on NLRNs transitioning into their professional roles.

Results: With a sample size of 63, there is a direct positive linear relationship between resilience and global trait EI and its subscales for NLRNs. The correlation is significant with the exception of the EI subscale emotionality. Also there was no significance with NLRNs who transitioned in a critical care setting and those in other specialty care areas.

Conclusions: There is a need for further exploration of this relationship with a larger sample size and the need to investigate person-level characteristics in NLRNs who successfully transition to their professional role.

Social connection is important to one's health and longevity. However, not only do people need others to survive, we need others to thrive. Researchers call for deeper examination of the functions and processes through which our social partners help us to prosper and thrive, such as through increased physical health and well-being. Over three studies, I examined phenomena theorized to contribute to long-term thriving including positive emotions (i.e., gratitude and positive affect fluctuation), responsive support, affectionate touch, and physical health (i.e., sleep) within the context of nursing work (Study 1) and military relationships (Study 2 & 3). Study 1 provides support for the benefits of received gratitude expressions, an understudied component of gratitude interactions. Specifically, nurses receiving more thanks within their work week were associated with feeling more satisfied with their patient care and in turn positive physical health outcomes including higher sleep quality, for example. Thus, not only is feeling grateful important to well-being but receiving thanks from others benefits one's physical health as well. Study 2 extended research describing the impact of the dynamic and fluctuating nature of emotion and physical health to close relationships by examining how positive affect variability (intra-individual standard deviation) and instability (differences between each successive day's mood) promotes or hinders intimacy. The second study found that greater fluctuations in positive affect over time were associated with greater reports of closeness within military couples. Recent research indicates that variability in positive and negative mood contributes to reduced psychological and physical well-being; however, when applied to the study of close relationships, Study 2 suggests that variation in positive mood may instead benefit military couples. Finally, Study 3 investigated the degree to which affectionate touch enhances the interrelationships among negative event support, gratitude, and sleep within Veterans and their partners over time. Results offer limited support; however, one key finding indicates that Veteran daily reports of affectionate touch were associated with increased sleep quality for their spouses. In addition, Veteran reports of affectionate touch strengthened the degree to which spouses' perceived responsive support predicted Veteran grateful mood. Study 3 supports research showing that positive interactions with one's partner, such as physical touch and responsive support, contribute to sleep and positive relationship maintenance emotions, such as gratitude. Taken together, these studies offer support for the integral role our social connections play in thriving, particularly within the contexts of nursing and military relationships.

« .Les émotions sont une partie intégrante et inséparable de la vie organisationnelle de tous les jours. Depuis les moments d’anéantissement ou de joie, de peine ou de peur, jusqu’à la sensation permanente d’insatisfaction ou d’emprisonnement, l’expérience au travail est saturée de sentiments. » (Ashforth & Humphrey, 1995, p.97). Certaines professions sont particulièrement exigeantes sur le plan émotionnel, par exemple les professions d’aide (Mann, 2005). Notre recherche a pour objectif d’analyser les exigences émotionnelles de la profession d’infirmières. En particulier, il s’agit de considérer la relation émotionnelle avec les patients comme un aspect essentiel de la charge de travail :devoir gérer et personnaliser les interactions et les communications, en vue de mettre en œuvre la compréhension interpersonnelle nécessaire. De manière à explorer cette fonction professionnelle, nous utiliserons le concept de « travail émotionnel », proposé par Hochschild en 1983. L’hypothèse centrale de son étude considère que le travail émotionnel consiste en l’effort, la planification et le contrôle exigé pour exprimer les émotions désirées par l’organisation durant les transactions (Morris & Feldman, 1996). Il demande au travailleur de supprimer l’expression de certaines émotions ou au contraire d’exprimer des émotions non ressenties afin que les émotions exprimées soient en accord avec les règles émotionnelles propres à l’institution. Les émotions au travail ont un caractère ambivalent. Ces résultats mixtes suggèrent de ne pas se focaliser sur les émotions négatives ou positives, mais plutôt de se concentrer sur le comment les infirmiers peuvent réguler leurs émotions pendant les interactions avec les patients. On a choisi comme indicateurs du travail émotionnel deux états personnels différents: l’empathie (Eisenberg, 2002, 2004 – Bonino et al. 2003) et la dissonance émotionnelle (Zapf, 2002), qui peuvent être utilisées par les infirmiers dans la relation avec leurs patients. Le concept d'empathie désigne la capacité à comprendre les états affectifs d'autrui et la capacité à partager les émotions avec autrui. L’empathie présente un attribut plutôt cognitif. Cette précision est importante pour différencier l’empathie de la sympathie :quand les infirmiers montrent de l’empathie, ils sont capables de se dégager des émotions du patient, préservant leur propre espace personnel sans perdre de vue leur rôle et leurs responsabilités professionnelles. Utiliser l’empathie dans les relations avec les patients va s’avérer avantageux pour les infirmiers parce que l’empathie permet d’instaurer un rapport authentique, établissant un juste milieu entre compassion et retrait (Hojat, 2007). La dissonance émotionnelle surgit quand un employé doit montrer une émotion qu’il ne ressent pas sincèrement dans une situation particulière :soit le sujet ne ressent rien quand on attend de lui qu’il ressente un sentiment précis, soit au contraire la règle émotionnelle lui impose de supprimer une émotion non désirée (par ex la colère). La dissonance émotionnelle a été considérée depuis le début des recherches comme le cœur du problème du travail émotionnel. Elle peut amener le travailleur à se sentir hypocrite, menteur, et à long terme elle peut entraîner une aliénation de ses propres émotions, une perte d’estime de soi et de la dépression (Zapf, 2002). Cette contribution vise à vérifier le rôle de l’empathie et de la dissonance émotionnelle sur la qualité de vie au travail (satisfaction au travail, l’engagement et les comportements de citoyenneté) dans le nursing. Un questionnaire a été complété par 222 infirmier(e)s, travaillant dans différents hôpitaux d’une région du Nord de l’Italie. L’échelle d’empathie a été soumise à une analyse factorielle confirmatoire, en utilisant le logiciel EQS. Les résultats montrent que la solution à deux facteurs présente des indices d’ajustement corrects. (RMSEA = 0.108 CFI = 0.829 GFI = 0.874 AGFI = 0.821). Cette analyse factorielle confirme les deux composantes de l’empathie telle que définie par Hojat (2007). La composante cognitive consiste en la prise de perspective et donc en la capacité de comprendre le point de vue de l’autre. La composante affective définit la compassion. Les résultats de l’étude 1 (modèle 1) confirment que :l’empathie a une forte composante cognitive. L’analyse factorielle souligne que le facteur dominant est la prise de perspective (perspective taking; Hojat, 2009) et donc la capacité de comprendre le point de vue de l’autre. De plus les analyses montrent que la prise de perspective explique le work engagement, les comportements de citoyenneté et la satisfaction professionnelle. On peut penser que la compréhension empathique génère un feedback dynamique où tant l’infirmier que le patient jouent un rôle actif et satisfaisant. Ces résultats confirment que l’empathie peut être une ressource émotionnelle utile tant pour les infirmiers que pour les structures de santé. La plupart des études se sont concentrées sur les effets nuisibles de la dissonance sur la santé des employés. Actuellement, les études tendent à considérer la dissonance émotionnelle comme un état psychologique (Pugh, 2011), qui a des liens avec la dissonance cognitive (Festinger, 1973). Ces études soulignent que la dissonance n’est pas négative en soi, mais l’est seulement dans certaines conditions. La plupart des études se sont concentrées sur les effets nuisibles de la dissonance sur la santé des employés. Actuellement, les études tendent à considérer la dissonance émotionnelle comme un état psychologique (Pugh, 2011), qui a des liens avec la dissonance cognitive (Festinger, 1973). Ces études soulignent que la dissonance n’est pas négative en soi, mais l’est seulement dans certaines conditions.Le cadre théorique du paradigme de l’Effort-Justification (Harman-Jones & Mills, 1999), a suscité l’hypothèse que la dissonance émotionnelle peut être modérée à différents niveaux. Les résultats confirment que les effets nuisibles de la dissonance peuvent être réduits. On pose l’hypothèse que l’engagement affectif protège de la sensation d’aliénation, causée de la dissonance émotionnnelle, en fournissant un sens d’appartenance et d’affiliation.On pose l’hypothèse que la signification accordée au travail réduit les effets nuisibles de la dissonance émotionnelle, parce que l’individu peut mieux accepter se sentir menteur et hypocrite s’il y a une motivation et une raison. L’absence d’effet de modération entre empathie et dissonance émotionnelle a des implications pour les études futures: par exemple de vérifier si empathie et dissonance émotionnelle sont des stratégies de régulation des émotions totalement différentes.
Doctorat en Sciences psychologiques et de l'éducation
info:eu-repo/semantics/nonPublished

The purpose of the present work was to study the psychological well-being of shift working single mothers in comparison with shift working cohabiting mothers, single mothers working regular hours and cohabiting mothers working regular hours. This was done using the four scales: Perceived stress, perceived social support, general health and satisfaction with life. The convenience sample consisted of Swedish care workers and nurses, who answered a questionnaire. The responses were tested through a 2 x 2 MANOVA. The results showed that there was a significant difference in psychological well-being between single and cohabiting mothers, but no difference among shift working and regular working mothers, and no interaction effects of the four scales on the four groups of mothers. While single mothers’ psychological well-being was worse than cohabiting mothers’, there was no significant difference among shift workers and regular day workers. The psychological well-being of shift working single mothers did not significantly differ from shift working cohabiting mothers, single mothers working regular hours and cohabiting mothers working regular hours. The results are discussed with respect to previous research and we concluded that among Swedish mothers, being a single mother can have more impact on well-being than working shifts.

In contemporary American society, the nursing profession is predominantly made up of white women. Currently, males make up only 6.8 percent of the three million nursing professionals in the U.S. and they are considered gender minorities within the nursing profession and within nursing education. As gender minorities, male students are identified as experiencing nursing programs and the practice of nursing differently than their female counterparts.

The purpose of this single instrumental, within site case study was to explore the learning environment for male nursing students and to investigate the nature of the interactions between nursing faculty and male undergraduate students in a Pacific Northwest medical university nursing program. Data was collected in the educational setting through observations, participant interviews, and document analysis. In addition, this study used Kanter's theoretical framework of tokenism to uncover if male nursing students were perceived as tokens in the educational environment. The findings showed that the faculty-student interactions were largely positive; they also revealed that having other males in the class was an instrumental factor in their positive perception of their educational experience. However, the male nursing students also identified areas of discomfort in the educational setting, specifically when practicing clinical skills with female peers, feeling pressured to volunteer and to expose skin during in-class demonstrations, and anticipating that they would be excluded from certain clinical situations. This research indicated that gender differences are present within nursing education and contributed to instances of discomfort for male students. Specific barriers occurred most often when men engaged with female peers and were in clinical settings. These findings provide new insight into when and where men begin to experience gender barriers in the educational environment and are pertinent to understanding the educational environment for men in nursing. Recommendations specifically geared towards assisting students in their first term are suggested for nursing faculty and administrators to ensure that the learning environment is welcoming for men. These recommendations include consciously placing males together in cohort groups and in clinical experiences, reducing instances of visibility and pressure on men in the clinical setting, building faculty awareness of perceived and real barriers for men in the educational setting, and providing faculty with tools to assess and address barriers that are present in the classroom environment.

This study aims to explore how male auxiliary nurses relate with gender-coded norms and why they relate to these norms in their work at elderly-care, while also exploring what kind of masculine identities appear when they relate to the expected gender norm. The empirical material was gathered by using a qualitative approach through semi-structured interviews with seven male auxiliary nurses from three different municipalities in Sweden. By using Connells (2008) masculinity-theory, where gender is seen as a process where the male body is regarded as an object and an acting organ which produces gender differences, this theory will help the essay understand the problems surrounding how the male auxiliaries’ nurses relate and negotiate with gender-coded norms in their work at elderly-care. This dynamic aspect of masculinity and the relation with the gender-structure will be used to examine how male auxiliary nurses relate and negotiating with different form of masculinities. The results of this study have showcased the evidently traditional gender norm that exists within this line of work, as the informants could relate to the pressure in maintaining their masculine identity. In some cases, the traditional gender norms have given the informants advantages and disadvantages which will be thoroughly explained later in the essay. The data ultimately showcased the dynamic and complex structure of masculinity, as male auxiliary nurses are expected to behave within the traditional forms of masculinity while also creating a new form of masculinity as they assume their “feminine” profession.

This study investigated the relationship between cognitive development and children’s understanding of the hospital nurse’s role. A group of 35 hospitalized children with chronic conditions and without neurological deficits, aged 4 to 10 years, were given three tasks (i.e., the Nurse’s Role Task, the Balance Beam Task, and the Task of Intrapersonal Understanding), scored for developmental level using Case’s (1992) neo-Piagetian theory of cognitive development as a framework. A full sample of 4—year—olds was not pursued due to the distracting hospital environment which, in combination with the shorter attention span of the 4-year-olds, rendered the interviews extremely difficult to complete. Descriptive results indicated a moderately advanced understanding of the hospital nurse’s role by 8— and lO—year—olds, being on the order of one—third of a substage (i.e., approximately 8 months ahead in development), whereas 4— and 6—year—olds showed an age— appropriate level of understanding of the hospital nurse’s role. Analysis of Variance indicated a statistically significant effect for age on all three tasks (p < .01). Six levels of social—cognitive development in understanding the hospital nurse’s role were found, which were, in successive order: (1) Roles of the nurse as scripted actions (i.e., 4-year-old level), (2) Roles of the nurse as motivated action sequences (i.e., 6—year—old level), (3) Roles of the nurse as planned action sequences (i.e., 8— year—old level), (4) Roles of the nurse as generalized dispositions toward action (i.e., 10—year-old level), (5) Roles of the nurse as demonstrating logically planned decisions towards action (i.e., 12-year—old level), and (6) Roles of the nurse as demonstrating logically planned action sequences (i.e., 14—year—old level). Furthermore, results indicate that a few 6- and 8-year-olds and the majority of l0—year—olds could give an accurate description of the duties of the hospital nurse, that is, 1) nurses are there to help children, 2) nurses have a responsibility for the well-being of their patients, 3) nurses want to improve the physical and emotional health of their patients, 4) nurses also see their own shortcomings in their care for children and have good intentions, and 5) nurses are human and have their own feelings, thoughts, doubts, and ideas. Suggestions for future research have been provided in order to further improve communication between health care professionals and hospitalized children with chronic conditions.

Globalization has opened international borders thereby creating a culturally diverse healthcare environment worldwide. Skills necessary to manage this diverse group extend beyond technical knowledge, expertise or excellent leadership skills. This study sought to determine the role of Emotional Intelligence (EI) in leading a diverse nursing team. A Quantitative, exploratory and descriptive design was applied, using a questionnaire as data collection instrument, to collect data from 390 nurses working in a large training hospital in the United Arab Emirates. The aim was to ascertain subordinates’ views of their nurse managers’ personal competence (self-awareness and self-management skills), and social competencies (social awareness and relationship management skills). The results indicated that the majority of respondents considered their leaders to be effective and emotionally competent. A significant relationship was found between effective leadership and the nurse manager’s self-confidence, self control, empathetic skills and culturally sensitive communication. An in-service training programme was developed and recommended for the further development of emotional intelligence in all nursing managers at this hospital.
Health Studies
M.A. (Health Studies)

The objectives of the study were to: 1) determine how the variables of occupational stress, job satisfaction, work engagement and social support conceptualised in literature, 2) describe the levels of occupational stress, job satisfaction, work engagement and social support, 3) determine the relationship between occupational stress, job satisfaction, work engagement and social support, 4) assess the predictive value of occupational stress on job satisfaction and work engagement, 5) determine the mediating role of social support on the effects of occupational stress on job satisfaction and work engagement. The research questions following on from the objectives were as follows: 1) how are the variables of occupational stress, job satisfaction, work engagement and social support conceptualised in literature? 2) what are the levels of occupational stress, job satisfaction, work engagement and social support among nurses? 3) what is the relationship between occupational stress, job satisfaction, work engagement and social support among nurses? 4) what is the predictive value of occupational stress on job satisfaction and work engagement among nurses? 5) what is the mediating role of social support on the effects of occupational stress on job satisfaction and work engagement among nurses? In order to answer the research objectives, this study used a cross sectional design. The present research study used a quantitative approach. The convenience sampling method was used for the purposes of data collection. Data was gathered from the wards of a public hospital in Durban. A sample of 120 voluntary participants was obtained, comprising of 109 females and 11 males. Data was collected using survey questionnaires which included the following five parts: 1) Biographical Information Questionnaire, 2) the Nursing Stress Indicator, 3) the Minnesota Satisfaction Questionnaire, 4) the Utrecht Work Engagement Scale, 5) and the Social Support Questionnaire. All data were analysed using SPSS version 19.0 for Windows. The results of the study showed that the nurses experienced high levels of occupational stress, low levels of job satisfaction and work engagement; and moderate levels of social support. There was a significant relationship between occupational stress, job satisfaction, work engagement and social support among the nurses. The results showed that occupational stress predicts the levels of job satisfaction and work engagement. The results also showed that social support mediates the effect of occupational stress on job satisfaction and work engagement. Recommendations and the value added by the study was also stated. The limitations of this study were also noted.
Thesis (M.Soc.Sc.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2012.

Nursing is a female dominated profession; making it difficult for men in the profession to excel in their caring capacities as nurses. This study aimed at identifying and describing male and female nurses' insights into and perceptions of socio-cultural influences on the recruitment and retention of men in the nursing profession and also explores their experiences in providing intimate care to patients of opposite gender. The study adopted a qualitative research methodology: 16 male and 11 female nursing students were purposively sampled and were interviewed using semi-structured questions. Themes of nursing seen as women's work; low status; stigma; caring and helping others were developed. Feelings of embarrassment and discomfort; fear and refusal of care were experienced when providing intimate care to patients of opposite gender; this has led male participants to develop strategies to protect themselves from sexual accusations. The Nursing Education Institutions (NEIs) have insufficient toilets for male nursing students; there is a lack of male role models and feminine pronouns are used when relating to professional nurses. Evidently socio-cultural perceptions of nursing enforce a negative image. The difficulties experienced by male and female nurses when providing intimate care and lack of male-friendliness in NEIs were discussed. These factors will lead to a further decline in the recruitment and retention of men in nursing; skilled and intelligent nurses are leaving the profession.
Health Studies
M.A. (Nursing Science)

Pregnancy is a period full of changes. The perception of life values by the woman and her partner are varied, changes in the life style are encountered and their roles in the life are also altered. The pregnant woman feels that nothing will be like before. She is very sensitive and also easily vulnerable. Contrastingly to the routine prenatal care, prenatal psychology searches for answering questions what the feelings in the pregnancy are in terms of the psychosocial situation, and what the impacts of this course on the newborn condition after the delivery are. The scope of the work is aimed at the importance and forms of the prenatal attachment, course and its impact on the newborn. The targets of the Diploma Work entitled "Effects of the psychosomatic situation of pregnant women on the child prenatal development" are as follows: 1) to assess the pregnant woman psychosomatic situation, 2) to evaluate the influence of psychosomatic situation on prenatal development of child 3) to determine the measure of the pregnant woman (dis)comfort throughout three trimesters and 4) to evaluate the newborn condition after the delivery. Thirty pregnant women were addressed. Fifteen women reflected on the proposal and agreed with completing an anonymous standardized scale. The respondents were contacted within a period of February 2017 to February 2018. The research sample group included the women and their newborns. The choice was intentional. The women completed the Freybergh scale, which is focused on monitoring the psychosocial situation of pregnant women. It comprised 70 questions divided into seven categories. They were answered through the mediation of a compiled web reference at http://mail.scac.cz/mrIWeb/mrIWeb.dll?I.Project=V31_TEHOTENSTVI_PORIZOVANI. The statistically processed results indicated the measure of the deprivationof pregnant women in particular trimesters and condition of the newborn after the delivery based on the pregnancy experienced. The Atlas programme was employed for the qualitative research to develop an anchored statement. From the sample group of 15 women and their 405 answers, 2% of answers were recorded corresponding to an intermediate degree of deprivation. Every respondent suffered frommild deprivation. The results of the present study will find their applications particularly to branches of prenatal psychology and gynaecology. They will serve as pilot results for a CEP project planned.

Current status: Mental well-being in pregnancy is one of the most beautiful moments in a woman's life. It's such a miracle experience. There is a period of complete change with pregnancy. Both women and their partners are changing their living standards, changing their lifestyle, and changing their life position. A pregnant woman feels that nothing will be like before. A pregnant woman is very sensitive and also vulnerable. Purpose:The aim of the diploma thesis is to evaluate the psychosomatic situation of the pregnant woman and her influence on the prenatal and postnatal development of the child. Another goal is to determine the degree of mental (non) well-being during pregnancy and after delivery. Methods: Qualitative secondary analysis of data and documents and subsequent synthesis of the information obtained was used to achieve the objectives set. I used the data from the National Medical Library in Prague, the library of 2. LF UK and FN Motol in Prague, the library of National center of nursing and non-medical health providers in Brno and the Academic Library of the University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice. Also searched were the international internet database ScienceDirect, Ebscohost, PubMed. In the Scopus database, keyword search was unsuccessful. Results:The benefit of the diploma thesis is the degree of psychological well-being of pregnant women using the Freybergh scale on the basis of acquired data. Research method and research file: The diploma thesis uses a standardized evaluation method, using the Freybergh scale consisting of seventy closed questions. I will get the approval of the respondents and also Mr Freyberg, using a standardized scale. The annex is the approval of Professor Freyberghov, using the assessment scale in my diploma thesis. Respondents were ad-dressed from February 2017 until February 2018. A total of 30 pregnant women were approached by a written form, personal handover or social networking, of which fifteen were willing to engage in research. The research group was to consist of fifteen pregnant women, which is fulfilled. I responded to each respondent in third, sixth, ninth month pregnancies, and postpartum. When the respondents filled the same rating ranges from seventy questions both in the given months of pregnancy and postpartum, the respondents' task was to express the frequency of occurrence of feelings on a four-point scale from "never, at all", "rarely, exceptionally", "occasionally", "often" to "always, always, always". The nine respondents were first pregnant and six respondents had at least one pregnancy experience. The evaluation was performed using a qualitative method in the form of axial and selective coding of anchored claims using the Atlas.ti computer program. Conclusion: The paper deals with the degree extent of pregnancy psychosomatics of pregnant women using the Freybergh self-rating scale. The thesis is divided into two parts, namely the theoretical part and the practical part. The theoretical work focuses on the development of the fetus throughout pregnancy. It also focuses on prenatal psychology, prenatal history, and the most important part is prenatal communication. In the practical part is selected quantitative research focused on the psychological well-being of pregnant women using the Freybergh scale in selected months of pregnancy.