https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/41284 Sun, 19 Apr 2026 21:22:19 GMT 2026-04-19T21:22:19Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/65758 Title: Graduate nurses' perceptions of their transition period from a student to a nurse Abstract: The aim of this study was to explore the experiences of graduate nurses during their transition period from a student to a nurse. Ten graduate nurses emerging from various cohorts participated in the study. Data was collected by means of tape recorded structured interviews. These were transcribed and analysed by using thematic analysis. Four themes emerged from the data: 'role conflict', 'being different', 'novice nurse', and 'becoming a nurse'. The findings reveal that graduate nurses encounter many difficulties during their first year as qualified staff. They recalled that they had to compromise their values with those of the hospital system, and for them this was a major source of role conflict. They also experienced difficulties in fitting in and become accepted as part of the nursing team by the other nurses. The main reason was their being perceived as different. The graduate nurses also felt that being degree nurses, it was their responsibility to maintain standards in nursing and they felt that this was not always easy. As regards their clinical practice, the participants felt that although they were able to carry out basic nursing care, they found it difficult to deal with new and complex situations. Overall, the graduate nurses were proud of what they had achieved. They considered nursing to be a challenging career and were happy to be in the caring profession. These findings indicate that the graduate nurses' overall experiences of their transition period from a nursing student to a qualified graduate nurse are similar to the experiences of graduate nurses documented in the literature. It is suggested that further larger scale studies are undertaken before any conclusions can be drawn, and to address the problems identified in this study. Description: B.SC.(HONS)NURSING Fri, 01 Jan 1999 00:00:00 GMT https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/65758 1999-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/65222 Title: Nurses' knowledge and fear in caring for patients with HIV/AIDS Abstract: There is an abundance of nursing literature on nurses' knowledge of HIV/AIDS, yet there is a paucity of studies exploring fear of nurses in caring for HIV/AIDS patients. The aim of this study, was to explore registered nurses' knowledge on HIV/AIDS and their fear in caring for patients with HIV/AIDS. A descriptive survey approach was used to fulfil this aim. Convenience sampling was used and three male medical wards were chosen for the study. A total of fifteen nurses met the inclusion criteria. Nurses' knowledge and fear were explored by using a self-administered questionnaire and a 100% response rate was obtained. Findings suggest that knowledge is variable amongst nurses, with knowledge being high in certain areas and low in others. The findings also suggest, that nurses experience fear when caring for HIV/AIDS patients. Several recommendations were made including organization of more in-service training courses and issuing of a regular AIDS update bulletin; organization of a permanent counseling service for nurses, by management and repetition of the· study, using a questionnaire and an observational schedule with a larger randomly-chosen sample. Description: B.SC.(HONS)NURSING Fri, 01 Jan 1999 00:00:00 GMT https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/65222 1999-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/65127 Title: An exploratory study on pre-hospital nursing care Abstract: Pre-hospital care involves the initial emergency care given to injured persons by a health professional in the community setting prior to hospital admission. In Malta nurses are responsible for the delivery of pre-hospital care. The aim of this study was to explore the perceptions of the emergency nurses about their role in the pre hospital setting in Malta. An exploratory qualitative research study was designed and data was collected by means of a semi-structured interview. Ten nurses working at the Admitting and Emergency Department agreed to participate voluntarily in the study. Findings suggested that the nursing care carried out in the pre-hospital setting is viewed as unique and diff~rent from the care given in other acute care settings. Additionally, nurses appear to attend to both the physical and the psychological needs of the patients. Furthermore communication between the health care professionals in the pre-hospital setting was deemed important in the care given. Education, training and experience seemed to be essential for nurses to be able to maintain a high level of care. Recently, specific pre-hospital courses and training were introduced. As in the past, nurses used to gain their knowledge through informal learning and actually by doing the emergency work itself. The findings also suggested that the role of the nurse in this setting could be improved by increasing the number of staff, providing an autonomous pre-hospital service as well as increasing education and training. Overall, this study ha-, indicated that there is still some room for improvement in the current pre-hospital care delivery system. In view of these findings, several recommendations for further research, education and training, and for practice were put forward. Description: B.SC.(HONS)NURSING Thu, 01 Jan 2004 00:00:00 GMT https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/65127 2004-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/65090 Title: Nurses' perceptions of the spiritual care of patients Abstract: Although commitment to holistic care is an established notion in nursing, the lack of research in the spiritual dimension of care led the student researcher to carry out a small scale study which aimed to explore nurses' perceptions of the spiritual care of patients. The student researcher used a descriptive non-experimental design where qualitative and quantitative data were obtained through a self administered questionnaire. The sample used was a convenience sample of eighteen Maltese nurses working full,-time in two medical wards at the local general hospital. The response rate was of 100%. This study gave further indication that spirituality and spiritual care are still highly associated by nurses with religiosity. This finding is recurrent in previous studies carried out in societies with a predominant Judeo-Christian faith (Ross 1997a, Narayansamy 1993). Therefore in such situations, even though literature agrees that spirituality cannot be limited to believers, religiosity might be that factor in life which gives meaning and purpose and embraces all the individual's relationships. These are the attributes given to spirituality by most of the literature reviewed in this last decade (Ross 1997a, Long 1997). Results showed that nurses might have some awareness about spiritual care, but show lack of knowledge as probably they do not consider it as an integral part of their role. Education given to qualified and student nurses might increase self-awareness and the knowledge base for the future implementation of spiritual care. Furthermore the ward environment was identified as an inhibiting factor which might be overcome by systematic and practical ways. Spirituality in nursing seems to be still in its infancy due to lack of research. Therefore if nurses claim their commitment to holistic care, the profession is urged to focus more on education and research in such facet of care. Description: B.SC.(HONS)NURSING Fri, 01 Jan 1999 00:00:00 GMT https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/65090 1999-01-01T00:00:00Z