Monday, July 18: We began the day at the University of KwaZulu Natal School of Nursing, which is situated high on a hill overlooking the city and will celebrate its 50th anniversary next year! We were greeted warmly by the faculty and given an overview of nursing education here and how they are reorienting nursing education to serve the needs of the different communities in this changing country. Over tea, we shared the history and mission of the Institute and had a chance to learn from one another; the UKZN faculty were especially interested in the diverse backgrounds of Institute students and graduates.
We next went to the brand new Inkosi Albert Luthulu Central Hospital, an extraordinary "quaternary" hospital created by the SA government to represent the best practices and latest technology in healthcare. We met with the senior management team who described for us the mission, organization and services of the hospital. We then toured the hospital, visiting an ICU, a critical care unit and their staff development department. The hospital has a fully implemented electronic medical records system and relies heavily on IT systems, requiring extensive staff training and orientation.
It was a full and interesting day! There's a lot to be learned in South Africa. Ann
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