Public health nurses' perspectives on collaborative partnerships in South Africa

The importance of partnerships and collaborations between different stakeholders in order to achieve health objectives are increasingly recognized. This article aims to: (1) highlight the importance of establishing partnerships and coalitions to achieve health goals; (2) consider the benefits and costs of such collaborations; and (3) identify the conditions which facilitate effective partnerships, from the perspective of nurses working within collaborative ventures in South Africa. A survey of these nurses was undertaken to consider their perceptions of the likely returns from investments in collaborative working and the extent of the relationship between the participation incentives and difficulties encountered. By examining their perceptions to a number of facets of partnership fostering, the article has elaborated on the meaning of collaboration and its rationale, and highlighted the conditions necessary for the success of community partnerships (CPs). The study has also demonstrated the feeling that CPs are beneficial with increased satisfaction along many operational parameters. Working to a shared agenda requires a "give and take attitude" among the stakeholders, designed to produce an outcome that merges multiple and new insights and directions for action, as well as the combined power foundation to do so.