Coping with Academic Work and Nursing Motherhood: The Case of Akenten Appiah Minkah University of Skills, Training and Entrepreneurial Development (Aamusted), Kumasi (Published)
The study explored how student nursing mothers cope with academic work at AAMUSTED. An interpretive philosophical paradigm, qualitative research approach and exploratory case study design were used to guide the study. The study was grounded in Role Conflict and self-determination theories. A combination of purposive and snowball sampling techniques was used to select 15 nursing mothers for the study. The data were gathered through interviews and a detailed observation of the nursing students using an observation guide. The data collected from the interview was analysed using an inductive analysis approach while the observation was analysed using content analysis. The results revealed that student nursing mothers face numerous challenges in their pursuit of academic achievement but they adopt several ways to cope with them. Combining childcare, post-maternity complications and family demands makes it very difficult for student nursing mothers to focus on their academic work. To deal with these challenges, students nursing mothers relied on their husbands, hiring a babysitter, participation in group discussion, developing a good relationship with lecturers and using other psychological tactics to enhance learning. Also, most students, breastfeeding were interrupted by “lecture calls” and had to run back to lectures to avoid missing out. It is recommended that universities should consider instituting policies that can offer student nursing mothers’ academic leverage and infrastructure support. Women must also be encouraged to have stable sources of income before pursing further studies to help them financially. Husbands are encouraged to support their wives and partners to further their education and provide them with necessary support they need at early stages of childcare.
Keywords: Academic Work, Coping Strategies, Student nursing mothers, child care, family demands and support
Perceptions, Challenges and Coping Strategies of Women in Political Leadership Positions (Published)
This study examined the experiences of females in political leadership positions in the Sunyani West District. Qualitative approach was adopted with a case study design to explore the experiences of the women leaders. Purposive and snowball sampling techniques were used to select 14 participants comprising eight (8) political party executives, four (4) Assembly women and two (2) women who were parliamentary candidates. The data were collected using interview and analysed through thematic procedure. The findings indicated that females in political leadership positions perceive leadership in three different ways as task-oriented, goal-oriented and people-oriented. Whatever way they perceived political leadership; they faced several challenges related to their personal lives, family and community. However, the main challenge facing females in political leadership positions in Sunyani West District is misconceptions about their capabilities as females. Females in political leadership positions cope with their challenges through self-motivation, creation of cordial relationship with male chauvinists and concentration on their potentials. The study recommended that female political leaders should focus on their output and achievements to show their capabilities in contributing meaningfully to society. There is an urgent need for opinion leaders such as chiefs, queen mothers, district chief executives and the public in general to discourage the unfair, unjust and unequal treatment sometimes meted out to women who occupy political leadership positions.
Keywords: Challenges, Coping Strategies, Ghana, Leadership, Political Leadership, Politics, Women
Perceived Impact of Compassion Fatigue and Its Coping Strategies among Nurses in Lagos State Unversity Teaching Hospital (Published)
Most nurses enter the field of Nursing with the intent of helping others and providing empathetic care for patients with critical physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual needs. However, providing empathetic care can take a tool on them as they navigate through their profession. This study was carried out to investigate the perceived impacts of compassion fatigue among nurses in LUTH, Idi-Araba. Questionnaire was used to gather information from 186 respondents who were selected using multistage sampling technique. Prevalence was measured using the post-traumatic stress scale. Data collected was analysed using SPSS version 22 and the results were represented with frequency tables and charts. Finding from the study shows that 30.1% met the criteria for moderate compassion fatigue while 45.1% and 15% met for high and severe compassion fatigue respectively. Some of the impacts of compassion fatigue as identified by the nurses include burnout (74. 8%), decreased sensed sense of empathy (68.8%), frequent fall-out or relationship breakdown with patients (68.8%) and tendency for the nurse to make medication errors (61.4%). Coping strategies adopted by the nurses are mostly problem-focus and include balancing of work life and home demands (78.5%), finding time to rest (76.4%), and ensuring peace with family members and neighbours (72%). Recommendation for the study included provision of professional counselling, elongation of annual leave duration and employment of more nurses.
Keywords: Coping Strategies, compassion fatigue, perceived impact