Experiences of student nurses working in termination of pregnancy units at a hospital in Soweto

M.Cur.Abstract: The introduction of the Choice on Termination of Pregnancy Act (Act no. 92 of 1996) was lauded in South Africa as a progressive move to allow women from 12 years of age, irrespective of their socio-economic status, race, or location, to access early, safe, and legal termination of pregnancy. Student nurses have been traumatised, and experienced emotional and professional stress due to working in termination of pregnancy units. However, student nurses are legally and professionally bound to provide total nursing care to patients who choose to terminate their pregnancies. The purpose of this study was to explore and describe the student nurses’ experiences, and to describe strategies that will empower student nurses to function efficiently in the termination of pregnancy units at a public hospital in Soweto. A phenomenological, qualitative, descriptive, explorative, and contextual research design was used. A purposive sampling method of 71 second-year student nurses was used to collect data by means of six focus group interviews. An open-coding method of data analysis was used to analyse the data collected. Five themes, namely: traumatic experience; lack of knowledge and awareness of alternative methods of contraception; ethical dilemmas; negative attitudes of nursing staff towards patients; and stigma working in a termination of pregnancy unit and their related sub-themes were identified. The study’s trustworthiness was ensured through credibility, transferability, dependability ,and confirmability strategies. Strategies to empower students working in termination of pregnancy unites in order to function fully were described. Limitations were indicated and recommendations were made in terms of nursing education, research, and nursing practice. The researcher adhered to ethical standards throughout the study