Students’ perceptions of student support services at a selected nursing campus in the EThekwini District.
Date
2017
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Abstract
Introduction
The students are the heart of any Higher Education Institution (HEI) and many
students come into Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) underprepared for the
activities and challenges of tertiary institutions. As a result, they may underperform
and sometimes exit the institution without completing the course.
Purpose
The purpose of the study was to describe students’ perceptions of student support
services at a selected nursing campus in the EThekwini District.
Research approach
A qualitative content analysis approach guided the research and the study was
conducted at one nursing campus in the EThekwini District. Non-probability
purposive sampling was used to recruit fourth-year nursing students undertaking the
R425 programme, who were individually interviewed. The inclusion criteria were that
participants should be R425 fourth-year nursing students, had to have made use of
the support services offered on the campus (e.g. orientation programme, mentoring
programme, academic support and financial support) and had to participate in the
study voluntarily. No new data was uncovered after interviewing eight (8)
participants.
Findings
The students’ perceptions of student support services revealed four categories, namely:
diversity of student support; relevance of feedback; peer mentoring and applicability of nonacademic
support. From these categories a further eleven sub-categories emerged as
follows: students’ orientation: accessible teachers and remediation: library services:
availability of LRC: clinical support: information, unlimited support and student
empowerment: lack of guidance: unkind mentors: sports and stress reduction: psychological
support and stress reduction: and importance of financial support.
Recommendations
The study recommends further research into student support services in all KZNCN
campuses and sub-campuses, and the development of a mentoring policy at the
research site.
Description
Master of Nursing in Nursing Education. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2017.