Assessment of activities performed by clinical nurse practitioners and implications for staffing and patient care at primary health care level in South Africa

• DOI: 10.4102/curationis.v39i1.1479
• Publication Date: 2016-03-11T12:18:11Z
• Authors: Jude Igumbor; Alta Davids; Catharina Nieuwoudt; Jessica Lee; Rifqah Roomaney
• Keywords: Staffing

Background: The shortage of nurses in public healthcare facilities South Africa is well documented; finding creative solutions to this problem remains a priority.Objective: This study sought establish the amount time that clinical nurse practitioners (CNPs) one district Western Cape spend on services and implications for staffing skills mix order deliver quality patient care.Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional was conducted across 15 purposively selected clinics providing primary health 5 sub-districts. frequency activities CNPs spent each activity fixed mobile were recorded. Time facility staff profiles correlated predictors total by with patients identified.Results: associated number facilities. median about 13 minutes whereas 3 minutes. Fixed-clinic also more their non-core functions than core functions, patients, saw fewer compared mobile-clinic CNPs.Conclusions: findings give insight into rural how caseload may affect consultation times. Two promising strategies identified – task shifting adjustments workerd eployment as ways address mix, which creates potential using workers fully whilst enhancing long-term these communities.