Community service nurses in primary healthcare clinics: Experiences of supervision and support from professional nurses
Abstract
Background: Newly qualified nurses in South Africa are required to undertake a compulsory
1-year community service (CS) in a public healthcare facility. They are not yet competent to
work alone and require supervision and support from senior professional nurses.
Aim: This study aimed to explore and describe the experiences of community service nurses
(CSNs) regarding supervision and support from professional nurses at primary healthcare
clinics (PHC).
Setting: The study was conducted with CSNs who were working in PHC clinics in Nelson
Mandela Bay (NMB).
Methods: A qualitative, explorative, descriptive and contextual study was conducted using
semi-structured interviews with 10 CSNs. Purposive sampling was used. Data were analysed
using Tesch’s coding method of content analysis.