Between 2013 and 2022, registered nurses in South Africa increased by 4%, according to the South African Nursing Council (SANC). However, during that same timeframe, the population increased by around 14%.
As we know, nurses are the backbone of our healthcare system. They are the first faces patients see in times of distress, a comforting presence during long nights of recovery, and often the last to say goodbye as patients leave.
Patient care is one thing. Life-saving potential is another, and nurses, who care for patients 24 hours a day, play a critical role in the early detection of patient deterioration to reduce morbidity and mortality. Patient surveillance is a cornerstone of nursing care, and it involves the ongoing observation, assessment, recognition, and interpretation of patient data.
This is a broad topic and requires careful consideration across multiple fronts. In this specific article, we are focusing on how sharpening patient skills can save lives and improve conditions for nurses. Refining skills won’t solve the nurse to patient ratio, but it could help nurses streamline patient care, identify key concerns sooner, and improve mortality rates, which isn’t only good for South Africa’s healthcare system, but the overall well-being of nurses as well.
Skills mark the sweet spot
Research consistently demonstrates that higher nursing education levels and ongoing skill development correlate directly with improved patient outcomes. A landmark study published in the Lancet provides compelling evidence of this correlation and is still the leading research in this space a decade later.
A favourable nursing practice environment and higher education levels of nurses significantly influence the timeliness of interventions once a problem or potential problem has been identified. Appropriate nurse staffing levels are essential for nurses to spend more time with patients and provide high-quality care that results in favourable patient outcomes, and in the South African context, where resources are often stretched thin, the ability of skilled nurses to efficiently and effectively monitor patients becomes even more critical.
But surveillance alone is not enough. To truly make a difference, nurses must be equipped with strong critical thinking skills. According to the Harvard Medical School, critical thinking and an analytical approach to patient care let nurses offer detailed, skilled insights into patient health without letting emotion, context, fatigue, or burnout influence their judgment.
To cultivate these essential critical thinking skills, medical and nursing education must evolve. Harvard Medical School outlines three key pillars for incorporating critical thinking into healthcare education:
- Using case-based learning: Contextualising everything in real patient cases helps learners understand how to apply their knowledge in actual patient care scenarios.
- Talking about thinking: Educators need to be explicit about clinical reasoning and critical thinking, discussing how healthcare professionals reason and use strategies to process information effectively.
- Applying key principles: Simulations and hands-on practice allow learners to apply their reasoning skills in safe, nonjudgmental environments.
For South African nurses looking to enhance their skills, these principles can be applied through various pathways. Formal education through universities and nursing colleges offers opportunities for advanced degrees or specialisations, while Continuous Professional Development programs provide workshops, seminars, and courses recognised by the South African Nursing Council (SANC). Nurses can also investigate eLearning platforms, which offer flexible, self-paced learning options, and mentorship programs.
Balancing stretched schedules with upskilling
The path to skill development is not without its challenges. Limited time, financial constraints, and geographical distance from educational institutions can pose significant barriers. Here, healthcare organisations play a crucial role. By offering on-site training and development programs, providing financial support or incentives for further education, implementing flexible scheduling to accommodate learning opportunities, and leveraging technology for remote learning options, organisations can significantly ease the burden on nurses looking to upgrade their skills.
As South Africa continues to address its healthcare challenges, skilled nurses with strong critical thinking abilities will be at the forefront of innovation and improvement. The Department of Health’s Strategic Plan emphasises the need for a well-trained, motivated workforce to achieve better health outcomes. Nurses who commit to lifelong learning, skills development, and honing their critical thinking abilities are not just improving their own careers – they are actively shaping the future of healthcare in the nation.
For every nurse reading this, know that your commitment to learning, growth, and developing your critical thinking skills reverberates far beyond your immediate environment. Each skill you sharpen, each piece of knowledge you acquire, each analytical approach you master contributes to a stronger, more resilient healthcare system for all South Africans.