Nurses: A Voice to Lead: Health Is A Human Right - Tshwane District Nurses

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Nurses: A Voice to Lead: Health Is A Human Right - Tshwane District Nurses

Journal Title: Biomedical Journal of Scientific & Technical Research (BJSTR) - Year 2018, Vol 8, Issue 4

Abstract

The purpose of this paper was to brief nurses under Tshwane District on the International Council of Nurses (ICN) 2018 International Nurses' Day (IND) theme. The ICN toolkit was downloaded and a full exploration of the topic was embarked on and delivered to Tshwane District nurses on 11 May 2018. The paper applies the context under which nurses practise as well as Hildegard Peplau's interpersonal relations model. This paper is divided into four parts: health is a human right; access to health care; investment and economic growth, and policy to practice - practice to policy. At the end the author makes recommendations according to context.The International Council of Nurses (ICN) holds that health is a human right and is at the forefront of advocating for access to health and nurses are the key to delivering it ICN Toolkit [1]. The human right to health means that everyone has the right to the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health, which includes access to all medical services, sanitation, adequate food, decent housing, healthy working conditions, and a clean environment (National Economic and Social Rights Initiative [NESRI] sa). The case of Life Esidimeni in South Africa (Gauteng province) is a close example of health as a human right 'denied'. The case of Esidimeni is an example of individuals and communities who suffered and still suffer due to lack of access and could not afford health care; of 144 patients who died presumably due to neglect and hunger while 20 patients are still missing and unaccounted for Nicholson. The president of the ICN, Annette Kennedy states that the right to health applies to nurses as well. "We know that improved quality and safety for patients depends on positive working environments for staff. That means the right to a safe working environment, adequate remuneration, and access to resources, and education. We must add in this the right to be heard and have a voice in decision making and policy development implementation!" Kennedy in ICN Toolkit [2]. Nurses and midwives in South Africa, this call is directed to you. South Africans have a Constitution South Africa, 1996 [3] that protects all citizens. Chapter 2 of the Constitution contains the 'Bill of Rights', and chapter 10 is on 'Public Administration - basic values and principles governing public administration', put simply by the late Zola Skweyiya as 'Batho Pele Principles' South Africa, 1997 [4]. In the Department of Health Strategic Plan, 2014/15 - 2018/19 South Africa [5], organizational environment is highlighted which covers working conditions. This paper discusses health as a human right, access to health care, investment and economic growth and policy to practice - practice to policy - in relation to the growth model of change and the ICN Toolkit, 2018 theme. Growth and development models of nursing look at the four central concepts of human as an intrinsic potential to change; human environment interaction as linear and irreversible, affecting change when applied at the appropriate time; health as change toward maximum potential, and examples of nursing implication stimulate re-patterning Leddy et al. [6]. Hildegard Peplau's interpersonal relations model is the chosen model to guide this paper.

Authors and Affiliations

Bethabile Lovely Dolamo

Keywords

Nurses Toolkit Sanitation Denied Patients Remuneration Strategic Plan Economic Growth Practice to Policy Constitution

EP ID EP591052
DOI 10.26717/BJSTR.2018.08.001697
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