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Experiences of undergraduate nursing students during their experiential learning in Boland Overberg healthcare facilities
No full textThesis (Master of Nursing)--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2019Nursing is a practice-based discipline, which makes experiential learning an important part of nursing education. The main purpose of experiential learning is to give students an opportunity to transfer theory into practice. It also equips the undergraduate student nurse with the skills and knowledge needed to provide high-quality care based on patients'/clients' needs and to produce competent and confident decision makers who are ready to accept personal and professional accountability. Experiential learning is accomplished by placing the undergraduate nursing students within a clinical learning environment. The success of the nursing programmes depends on appropriate clinical experience. The purpose of this research was to explore and describe the experiences of undergraduate nursing students during experiential learning in healthcare facilities at the Boland Overberg Campus in the Western Cape. A qualitative, exploratory, descriptive design was applied. Data collection was done using focus-group interviews to ascertain the undergraduate student nurses' experiences during clinical practice in healthcare facilities in the Boland Overberg area. Thirty-eight undergraduate nursing students from Boland Campus were selected, using purposive sampling. The ethical principles relevant to this study were observed. Colaizzi's method of coding and thematic content analysis were used to interpret the data. The results of this study revealed that students were not satisfied with the clinical learning environment, which was not conducive to their learning. The students were not supported and supervised by the registered nurses in the facilities. This resulted in a lack of theory and practice integration. Furthermore, the results revealed that the students faced challenges during clinical practice. One of the most challenging factors was negative staff attitudes. It was evident that even though being in clinical settings was sometimes very challenging and frightening, there were also joyful moments. Seeing the patient recover gave students satisfaction and a reason to return the next day
Organic binder mediated Co3O4/TiO2 heterojunction formation for heterogeneous activation of Peroxymonosulfate
Get PDFThesis (Master of Engineering in Chemical Engineering)--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2019.A shortage of water has resulted in the need to enhance the quality of wastewater that is released into the environment. The advanced oxidation process (AOP) using heterogeneous catalysis is a promising treatment process for the management of wastewater containing recalcitrant pollutants as compared to conventional processes. As AOP is a reliable wastewater treatment process, it is expected to be a sustainable answer to the shortage of clean water. AOP using heterogeneous catalysis based on Co3O4 particles and PMS, in particular has been found to be a powerful procedure for the degradation and mineralization of recalcitrant organic contaminants. In addition, due to the growing application of Co3O4 in lithium batteries, large quantities of these particles will be recovered as waste from spent lithium batteries, so there is a need to find a use for them. Although this method has received some promising feedback, challenges still need to be addressed, such as the toxicity of cobalt particles, the poor chemical and thermal stability and particle aggregation, and the prompting of lower catalytic efficiency in long haul application. Furthermore, the removal of the catalyst after the treatment of pollutants is also an issue.
In order to be applicable, a novel catalyst must be produced requiring the combination of Co3O4 with a support material in order to inhibit cobalt leaching and generate better particle stability. From the available literature, TiO2 was found to be the best support material because it not only provides a large surface area for well dispersed Co3O4, but it also forms strong Co-O-Ti bonds which greatly reduced cobalt leaching as compared to other support materials. Moreover, it also greatly encourages the formation of surface Co–OH complexes, which is considered a crucial step for PMS activation. Therefore, the issues cited above could be avoided by producing a Co3O4/TiO2 heterojunction catalyst
A framework for e-Learning support to language lecturers at a university of technology
Get PDFThesis (DTech (Informatics))--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2019.This study explored the perceptions and expectations that language lecturers have of e-Learning support. E-Learning has promised to enhance teaching and learning practices and yet it has not been optimally implemented. In the current complex context of Higher education in South Africa all lecturers are confronted with challenges. Language lecturers however have added strain being tasked with preparing students from the demanding, multi-cultural and multi-lingual context to communicate academically in the language of learning and teaching across all subject areas. Universities, in line with expectations from the White Paper on e-Education (South Africa. Department of Education, 2004), require lecturers to use a Learning Management System (LMS) during academic activity even though some lecturers are reluctant, for various reasons, to do so. Lecturer support has been identified as one way in which to promote smooth and optimal e-Learning uptake. Support is a service and for that reason the service delivery industry was consulted to find possible service quality solutions in aid of the assistance for lecturers.
Teaching is a highly complex activity where pedagogy is significant in the incorporation of technology, which is what the TPACK (Technological Pedagogical and Content Knowledge) framework underscores. This framework represents the complexity of introducing technology to teaching, considering pedagogy, coupled with CALL (computer assisted language learning), which is a contemporary research domain. To aid the lecturer in introducing TPACK a qualified and trained support service is key. The insights and perspectives of an extensive literature review about the complex context of higher education in South Africa, language lecturers, e-Learning and support as a service are presented. The rationale for the inclusion of attention to service delivery with specific focus to perceptions and expectations is investigated and key issues related to language lecturers’ perceptions and expectations of LMS support are explored. This study identifies relevant elements of a support service for technology to optimise the teaching practice of language lecturers in a complex environment of higher education. The discrepancy between intended use of LMS and actual use thereof is addressed, while a framework of gaps regarding LMS support within a university of technology in South Africa was developed. This framework can assist with optimal support and ultimately contribute to the vision for higher education in South Africa as set out by the Department of Higher Education and Training in their White Paper on post-school Education and Training (2013) calling for transformation
Measuring quality of work life of municipal firefighters in the Western Cape, South Africa
Get PDFThesis (MTech (Business Administration))--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2019Municipal firefighters face a number of risks and much stress at work. In the South African context, the quality of work life (QWL) is impacted considerably by high stress levels and work-related demands. Currently, firefighting organisations face serious challenges that hamper the QWL among municipal firefighters. These challenges include physical and mental challenges, and the element of work which negatively affects the job performance among the firefighters. The primary research objective has been to identify the key factors that impact on the QWL of municipal firefighters in the Western Cape, South Africa. In addition, this study explores a common approach for measuring the QWL and determining an effective way to maintain a better work life for the firefighters.
The quantitative research method was employed. This study measured and analysed the key factors that had impacted on the QWL of municipal firefighters in the Western Cape, South Africa. A questionnaire was used to collect data from a group of 120 municipal firefighters from the Goodwood Fire Department. This study used the ethical principles of informed consent, the right to privacy and honesty, and confidentiality/anonymity in the research process. The quantitative data were analysed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS).
The findings and results provide insight into and guidance to management and employees in a practical way to improve the QWL among municipal firefighters. The fire department should upgrade the QWL of its workers so as to hold them and get its very own vital needs. The fire department should develop and keep up QWL programmes. Support from ranking employees are basic to a useful QWL programme. In addition, unmistakable upper level management contribution is one of the critical factors in the procedure accomplishment
Fuel cell power conditioning multiphase converter for 1400 VDC megawatts stacks
Get PDFThesis (PhD (Electrical Engineering))--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2019Energy systems based on fossil fuel have demonstrated their abilities to permit economic development. However, with the fast exhaustion of this energy source, the expansion of the world energy demand and concerns over global warming, new energy systems dependent on renewable and other sustainable energy are gaining more interests. It is a fact that future development in the energy sector is founded on the utilisation of renewable and sustainable energy sources. These energy sources can enable the world to meet the double targets of diminishing greenhouse gas emissions and ensuring reliable and cost-effective energy supply. Fuel cells are one of the advanced clean energy technologies to substitute power generation systems based on fossil fuel. They are viewed as reliable and efficient technologies to operate either tied or non-tied to the grid to power applications ranging from domestic, commercial to industrial. Multiple fuel cell stacks can be associated in series and parallel to obtain a fuel cell system with high power up to megawatts. The connection of megawatts fuel cell systems to a utility grid requires that the power condition unit serving as the interface between the fuel cell plant and the grid operates accordingly. Different power conditioning unit topologies can be adopted, this study considers a multilevel inverter.
Multilevel inverters are getting more popularity and attractiveness as compared to conventional inverters in high voltage and high-power applications. These inverters are suitable for harmonic mitigation in high-power applications whereby switching devices are unable to function at high switching frequencies. For a given application, the choice of appropriate multilevel topology and its control scheme are not defined and depend on various engineering compromises, however, the most developed multilevel inverter topologies include the Diode Clamped, the Flying Capacitor and the Cascade Full Bridge inverters. On the other hand, a multilevel inverter can be either a three or a five, or a nine level, however, this research focuses on the three-level diode clamped inverters.
The aim of this thesis is to model and control a three-level diode clamped inverter for the grid connection of a megawatt fuel cell stack. Besides the grid, the system consists of a 1.54 MW operating at 1400 V DC proton exchange membrane fuel cell stack, a 1.26 MW three-level diode clamped inverter with a nominal voltage of 600 V and an LCL filter which is designed to reduce harmonics and meet the standards such as IEEE 519 and IEC 61000-3-6. The inverter control scheme comprises voltage and current regulators to provide a good power factor and satisfy synchronisation requirements with the grid. The frequency and phase are synchronised with those of the grid through a phase locked loop. The modelling and simulation are performed using Matlab/Simulink. The results show good performance of the developed system with a low total harmonic distortion of about 0.35% for the voltage and 0.19% for the current
Application of mass and energy balances to determine coal, air required and flue gas flow rates in a power plant
Get PDFThesis (MEng (Mechanical Engineering))--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2019The primary objective of this study was to determine the heat rate of the power plant using the measurements of critical parameters and MEB calculations. An additional goal of the project was to determine the flue gas and air mass flow rates which influence the efficiency of the coal power plant.
The consumption of coal is a critical parameter affecting the efficiency of coal-fired steam boilers. From an operational perspective, the mass flow rate of pulverised coal is a major indicator of the rate of combustion and plant heat rate. However, the cost of electricity production in thermal coal power plants operated by ESKOM, is predominantly influenced by pulverized coal which represents between 60-70% of the total cost. Monitoring the consumption of coal can determine corrective actions which will ultimately improve the power plant’s efficiency, reliability and associated economic benefits.
Initially, the fundamental concepts of a boiler and its auxiliaries were studied, which led to the required coal, air and flue gas systems required in a coal-fired boiler plant. From the literature review, it was established that coal consumption is a critical indicator of a plant’s performance in terms of cost and efficiency. The different methods used for the flow measurements of coal, air and flue gas in a coal-fired boiler plant, such as MEB and CFD were reviewed. The MEB method was used to determine the pulverised coal, air, and flue gas mass flow rates and the plant’s heat rate. The MEB method was used to establish a coherent set of input and output data for the boiler, as well as to troubleshoot existing measurements from ESKOM’s coal-fired power plant. The plant’s coal consumption and heat rate results were calculated by means of a Mathcad model that was developed using BMEB methodology. Mathcad was chosen because it allows to visually check calculations. Furthermore ANSYS Fluent was used for the CFD simulation in the secondary air system
Performance assessment of recycled alum sludge in the treatment of textile industry effluent in South Africa
Get PDFThesis (MEng (Civil Engineering))--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2019The textile industry is considered one of the most polluting sectors in terms of the large volume and toxic composition of the effluent that is generated. For example, the effluent contains dyes, which represent an environmental hazard when discharged without proper treatment. This study aimed to assess the use of recycled alum sludge (RAS) as an alternative treatment for the reduction of colour from dye based synthetic textile industry wastewater. To determine treatment efficiency, the colour, chemical oxygen demand (COD), total dissolved solids (TDS), and pH before and after treatment were monitored. The pH at which optimal removal rates were achieved was also determined.
Coagulation/flocculation experiments were conducted on five batches of synthetic wastewater containing disperse dye with an average colour, COD and TDS of 133 ± 13 mg/l (range 115-145 mg/l), 38 ± 4 mg/l (range 32-43 mg/l) and 779 ± 18 mg/l (range 754-804 mg/l), respectively, using a coagulant of alum:RAS mixed in ratios of 1:0, 0:1. 1:1, and 1:2. An average removal efficiency of 89 ± 2% (range: 81-96%) for colour, 29 ± 3% (range: 19-41%) for COD, and 36 ± 4% (range 19-59%) of TDS was recorded during treatment with fresh alum (unmixed). The average removal efficiencies for treatment with RAS (ratio 1:0, i.e. unmixed) were 78 ± 3% (range 67-88%), 22 ± 3% (range 14-34%) and 32 ± 1% (range 29-35%) for colour, COD and TDS, respectively. When fresh alum sludge was mixed with RAS at a ratio of 1:1, average colour and TDS removal efficiencies of 86 ± 3% (range 83-88%), 37 ± 5% (range 30-50%), respectively were achieved, while at ratios of 1:2, the average colour and TDS removal efficiencies were 82 ± 2% (range: 80-84%) and 30 ± 5% (range 22-35%), respectively. Increases in the COD concentrations were observed when fresh alum sludge was mixed with RAS in 1:1 and 1:2 ratios. However, the initial COD concentrations in the synthetic wastewater were low [38 ± 4 mg/l (range 32-43 mg/l)] and increases after treatment were marginal (3 ± 7% and 9 ± 3%, respectively).
A second method was applied for colour removal from the synthetic wastewater, namely adsorption with corn cobs. Results were inconclusive due to high levels of turbidity in the treated effluent caused by leaching of components from the shredded corn cobs.
This study intended to present alternative means or methods for the treatment of textile wastewater containing dye. The findings of this study compared well with previous laboratory studies conducted with synthetic textile wastewater containing dye. The coagulant of fresh alum and RAS mix ratio of 1:1 offered the best alternative to fresh alum in the treatment of synthetic textile wastewater in terms of reduction of disperse dye from the synthetic textile wastewater. The use of RAS could reduce the volume of waste to be discarded as well as the amount of fresh coagulant necessary for the daily operation
Potential toxic elements in the soil of a closed Metalliferous Ore Mine
Get PDFThesis (MEng (Chemical Engineering))--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2019Potential Toxic Elements (PTEs) contamination is a serious environmental concern in soils and sediments. In many ways, mining activities contribute negatively to the environment and its ecosystems with PTE pollution extending far beyond the seizure of mining activity. Some of the negative impact of mining industry includes formation of sinkholes, contamination of groundwater, surface water and as for the scope of this research study, PTE contamination of soils. Understanding PTE bioavailability and mobility in the contaminated soil near mining activity has become a public concern, and research towards the minimization of the PTEs ecological impact is required, thus the aim of this study, i.e. to evaluate the bioavailability and mobility of PTEs from a closed metalliferous ore mine, deemed to be a potential polluter.
The three-stage BCR sequential extraction procedure along with multivariate analysis techniques such as XRF and FTIR were employed to evaluate metal chemical fractions and total concentrations of selected PTEs, such as Aluminium (Al), Chromium (Cr), Copper (Cu), Iron (Fe), Manganese (Mn) and Zinc (Zn) in the analysed soil samples. The total organic matter and distribution of particle size were investigated and the affinity of organic matter to grain size was highlighted. The results indicated that higher susceptibility and bioavailability of Cu, Zn and Mn with a strong affinity to the exchangeable fraction – carbonate bounded. Substantial amount of Fe was observed in the reducible fraction which may be due to the stable complexes formed and bound to the Fe-Mn oxides. In the oxidizable fractions, Al showed dominance with Fe and Cu also showing the strong affinity to be embedded in organic matter. Cr was generally the least mobile metal as indicated by the lowest concentration in all fractions. Generally, the mobility of PTEs in the sediments was as follows: exchangeable>reducible and oxidizable. The strong affinity of organic matter to attach to fine grain sized soil was observed with a high fine fraction being observed in samples obtained from the source of pollution. Furthermore, downstream from the source of pollution, there was an indication that the soil had lower organic matter content with coarser particle sized soil. The FITR and XRF results showed a strong association of silicates and quartz minerals, with the soil being constituted predominantly by SiO2, Fe2O3, Al2O3 and traces of MgO, Cr2O3 and MnO. A Risk Assessment Code (RAC) was also used as a criterion to quantitatively evaluate the risks associated with the soil samples and PTEs risk to the environment decreased as follows Cu>Al>Fe>Mn>Zn> with the least risk posed by Cr
The determination of the need for after- hours diagnostic radiological reporting in emergency departments
Get PDFThesis (MSc (Radiography))--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2019Introduction:
After-hours diagnostic imaging is essential in the majority of large public hospitals, as it plays a vital role in the treatment and management of patients. Radiologists are not always available after hours to provide reports on radiographic images since, nationally and globally, there is a shortage of these professionals. Radiographic images are frequently interpreted by emergency physicians after hours. Thus, while diagnostic imaging represents an essential component in patient care (including management and treatment), according to the literature, a significant cause of clinical error occurs through the misinterpretation of radiographic images by emergency physicians. The aim of this study was to determine emergency physicians’ views on whether there was a need for an after-hours diagnostic radiology reporting service in emergency departments at some public hospitals, in the Durban Metropole. It is important to note that in addition to the above, this study calculated the number of radiographic examinations performed after-hours, and the number that was reported by the radiologist during office hours, since there was no radiology cover after hours.
Methods:
A descriptive cross-sectional quantitative survey design was employed using a self-administered questionnaire as a data collection instrument completed by emergency physicians at four public hospitals. In addition, additional data was collected to determine the number of radiographic examinations that had been performed after hours, at the selected four public hospitals over a period of three months, as well as the number of radiographic examinations that was reported on. This enabled the authors to determine the number of radiographic examinations that went unreported during this study period.
Results:
A total of 39 emergency physicians participated in the survey, with a mean and median age of 39.46 and 38 years, respectively (SD = 9.11 years). The results of this study showed that between 0.1% and 0.6% of radiographic examinations performed after hours were reported on by radiologists during office hours, for this study period. This implies that less than 1% of all examinations produced after hours at the four public hospitals, received a radiology report. Emergency physicians felt that the interpretation of images took up valuable time. The survey found that there was near total consensus amongst respondents on whether they prefer after-hours reporting to be performed by a radiologist as 46.2% (n = 18) of the respondents strongly agreed and 41.0% agreed (n = 16). Furthermore, a total of 35.9% (n=14) of respondents agreed and 43.6% (n=17) strongly agreed, that having a reporting radiographer reporting on radiographic images after-hours, would benefit patient flow. The survey also found that 92% of the sampled emergency physicians agreed (59.0% strongly agreed and 33.3% agreed, respectively) that there was a need for further training in the interpretation of radiographic images.
Discussion:
From the above results, it is evident that since the majority of radiographic examinations went unreported after hours, the task to interpret the radiographic images is left to the emergency physicians as part of their patient management. Conceivably, this added image interpretation results in a further increase in the workload of emergency physicians. It is therefore not surprising that emergency physicians preferred that after-hours reporting of radiographic images be done by radiologists. According to the literature, reporting radiographers also play a role in alleviating the workload of emergency physicians and improving patient flow, by providing a report for the radiographic images during after-hours. Thus, reporting radiographers afford emergency physicians additional time to concentrate on patient treatment, resulting in faster patient throughput. Reporting on radiographic images is not yet included in the scope of the South African radiographer. The findings of this study, though, suggested that there was a need for emergency physicians to undergo training in the interpretation of radiographic images.
Conclusion:
The study recommends that an after-hours reporting service be considered for the four public hospitals concerned. It is recommended that the heads of the emergency and radiology departments further consider offering courses on radiographic image interpretation for emergency physicians
Trends and reporting of medication administration errors among nursing students at a higher education institution in the Western Cape
Get PDFThesis (Master of Nursing)--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2019One of the most important issues in the provision of healthcare services which threaten the patient's safety, is medication administration errors. These could compromise patient safety and may lead to patient disability or even death, besides the financial cost of these errors. Nurses are responsible for administering medication to numerous patients. They thus are the last defence line against medication administration errors. All student nurses are trained very early in their courses on how to administer medication and all the complications and implications that accompany this important procedure. Although lecturers spend time and effort in teaching nursing students about protocols for safe medication administration, nurses still commit medication administration errors.
The aim of the study was to determine awareness and perception of the occurrence and reporting of medication administration errors (MAEs) among nursing students. A descriptive quantitative design was employed. A questionnaire was used to collect data. Responses were collected from 291 nursing students at a higher education institution in the Western Cape, South Africa. Nonprobability proportional quota sampling was used in this study for data collection. Data was analysed with IBM SPSS® software. Data was presented in graphs, percentages, means, and standard deviation, while inferential statistics were conducted.
The findings of the study reveal that 85.2% of the respondents were aware of MAE occurrence, but 40.1% were unaware of reporting of these errors. The top and most significant subscale for MAE occurrence was the physician communication subscale, while the top and only significant barrier to reporting these errors was the fear subscale.
In conclusion, most of the respondents were aware of MAE occurrence, while more than a third were unaware of the reporting of these errors. The study recommended building non-punitive blame-free reporting systems to emphasise the importance of reporting errors