Abstract
This article reports on a survey done among nurses registered with the South African Nursing Council. The survey was carried out in the last quarter of 2003. The purpose of the survey was to investigate aspects of the working life of women in the nursing profession in South Africa and to make recommendations on how their working environment could be improved. The important findings were that pay-related issues dominate as the main problem at work. Improving pay scales and being paid according to extra experience, responsibilities and qualifications could improve the nurses' working environment. Furthermore, training opportunities, medical insurance and equal opportunities should be addressed as a matter of urgency. In general, respondents had a positive attitude towards their job, which leaves the impression that nurses still regard their jobs as something they do for the sake of a service to the community and not only for the money they earn.
Highlights
The position of women in the workplace has changed significantly since the implementation of a new dispensation in South A frica in 1994
Part A of the questionnaire focuses on questions on problems that nurses experience in the workplace, how nurses generally feel about their job, possible changes that m ight provide them with a better workplace, barriers in their career path as w om en w orking in the nursing profession, main career expectations and goals, the role of the SANC and the role of woman in the nursing profession
When comparing the different categories of nurses’ problem s at w ork, no significant differences were found between the respondents in terms o f the types of organisations they were working for, employment, Significant differences were found between respondents from different educational levels with respect to feeling overqualified and acting in positions without receiving the salary attached to those positions
Summary
The position of women in the workplace has changed significantly since the implementation of a new dispensation in South A frica in 1994. The new constitution paved the way for women to take th eir rig h tfu l p lace in the workplace as equal partners of men and their participation in the labour market has increased significantly during the past few years. The fact that women are joining organisations as managers and professionals has prompted studies on various aspects of the importance of their contribution in general. Do they make a significant contribution to the
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