Professional nurses' lived experiences regarding the performance management system in the Mopani district

Area of Science:

• Healthcare Management
• Nursing Administration
• Public Health

Background:

• The performance management system (PMS) aims to align employee development with organizational goals and improve service delivery.
• Deteriorating public services and varied perceptions among nurses highlight the need to examine PMS implementation.
• This study focuses on the Mopani district clinics to understand these diverse views.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore and describe professional nurses' (PNs) perceptions of the performance management system (PMS).
• To document the lived experiences of PNs concerning PMS implementation in their clinical settings.

Main Methods:

• A qualitative, phenomenological research approach was employed.
• Purposive sampling was used to select participants.
• Data were collected through focus group interviews with 22 PNs across three sessions.

Main Results:

• Key themes identified include uncertainty, poor implementation processes, and a lack of knowledge regarding PMS.
• Professional nurses expressed negative attitudes towards the current PMS implementation.
• Findings indicate significant challenges in the practical application and understanding of PMS.

Conclusions:

• Professional nurses hold negative perceptions of the PMS, indicating a need for significant improvements.
• Enhancing leadership, productivity, job satisfaction, and organizational commitment is crucial.
• Recommendations include constructive feedback, training, capacity development, and standardizing performance instruments.