The Nurse in the University: A History of University Education for South African Nurses: A Case Study of the University of the Witwatersrand
2011

The History of University Education for South African Nurses

publication Evidence: moderate

Author Information

Author(s): Simonne Horwitz

Primary Institution: University of the Witwatersrand

Hypothesis

How did university-based training for nurses evolve in South Africa?

Conclusion

The study reveals that the integration of nursing education into the university system was crucial for the professionalization of nursing in South Africa.

Supporting Evidence

  • Wits was the first university in South Africa to offer a nursing diploma in 1937.
  • The study highlights the historical context of nursing education and its professionalization.
  • Nursing education was initially resisted by universities due to perceptions of nursing as women's domestic work.
  • The integration of nursing education into universities was influenced by local and international pressures.

Takeaway

This paper tells the story of how nurses in South Africa started going to university to learn, which helped them become recognized as professionals.

Methodology

The study uses historical analysis of primary and secondary sources, including departmental documents and personal communications.

Potential Biases

Potential bias in the interpretation of historical events based on available sources.

Limitations

The study may not cover all aspects of nursing education across South Africa due to its focus on one university.

Participant Demographics

Focuses on nursing students and educators at the University of the Witwatersrand, with attention to racial dynamics in nursing education.

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.1155/2011/813270

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