The Effect on Theatre Nurses for Rendering Perioperative Care to Patients Living with HIV in a South African Tertiary Hospital. AIDS research and Treatment
Ngaledzani, Rudzani; Ndou-Mammbona, Avhatakali Allga; Mavhandu-Mudzusi, Azwihangwisi Helen
Purpose. Te study aimed to gain an in-depth understanding of how theatre nurses are being afected when they render per ioperative care to patients living with HIV in a South African tertiary hospital. Background. Tere is a scarcity of studies that focus
solely on the wellbeing of theatre nurses who render perioperative care to HIV patient due to the ramifcations of the nurses’ fear
of contracting HIV. Patients living with HIV often receive substandard care. Objectives. To establish how theatre nurses are being
impacted when rendering perioperative care to patient living with HIV, the study followed a qualitative approach using an
interpretative phenomenological analysis design. Data were collected through in-depth individual interviews from ten theatre
nurses who were purposively selected according to specifc criteria. Tey voluntarily agreed to participate. An interpretive
phenomenological analysis framework was used to analyse the data. Two main themes emerged from the data analysis, namely, the
negative efect on nurses’ wellbeing and the impact that it had on them professionally. Results. Te study revealed that the
perioperative care of patients living with HIV had a negative impact on physical, mental, and social wellbeing of theatre nurses.
Teir compromised wellbeing in turn led to poor patient care, which put nurses at risk of losing their jobs and even potentially
having to face litigation. Te study further indicated that nurses did not receive psychological support from the management
which further afected their health and professional performance. Conclusion. Te study proposes that theatre nurses rendering
perioperative care to people living with HIV should receive proper training and support; staf shortages should also be addressed.
Tere is also an urgent need for appropriate and sufcient protective equipment. Such changes will be essential in order to mitigate
the negative impact that their jobs have on their wellbeing and on them in their professional capacity.
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