Nursing staff absenteeism at the Red Cross Children's Hospital and it's financial implications

Absenteeism is a problem affecting the Public and the Private sector institutions alike. Anecdotal evidence from monthly absenteeism statistics and managers' comments suggest that it is also a problem for Red Cross Children's Hospital (RCCH). This dissertation describes the investigation into absenteeism among nurses at RCCH that was conducted by the writer in the year 2004. The writer reviewed attendance records for the year 2003. The main findings from the investigation and recommendations on management of absenteeism are then presented. The overall objective of the study was to establish the determinants of absenteeism among nursing personnel of RCCH and financial implications thereof. This involved establishing the extent of absenteeism among the nursing personnel, identifying major causes, estimating the financial burden and making recommendations on how to manage this problem. The study followed a descriptive as well as analytic methodology in presentation and discussion of results. The methodology included a review of the literature on absenteeism, motivation and migration of health personnel. The study has a qualitative and a quantitative aspect. Focus groups and in-depth interviews were conducted for collection of primary data from nurses. Two questionnaires were used as interview guides. Secondary data was collected from PERSAL database using the data capture sheet. Attendance records of all nurses were reviewed for the quantitative aspect of the study. A major finding of the study was that absenteeism among nursing personnel at RCCH was above what most writers on the subject regard as acceptable level. Staff turnover was found to be high in the nursing department with staff leaving the service and posts remaining vacant. It was felt that there is difficulty in recruiting nurses especially from the outskirts of the Western Cape and other provinces because of lack of accommodation. It was suggested that Staff Residence policy be enforced to address this problem since it confers power of granting or refusing accommodation to management. Stress was identified as the major cause of absenteeism by all interviewees. The source of stress was identified as both personal and work related problems. The financial burden of nurses' absenteeism was estimated at more than one million rands for the year 2003. Important recommendations that emerged from the study were that absenteeism control should be included in the job descriptions of supervisory positions. Development of institutional absenteeism policy was also recommended. it was also recommended that mechanisms be developed to recognize staff members with good attendance records.

Grantor dc:publisher.institution

Department of Public Health and Family Medicine

Year dc:date.issued

2006

Author dc:creator

• Ngcobo, Richard Sibongiseni

Language dc:language.iso

eng

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/11427/9336

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:open.uct.ac.za:11427/9336