Challenges confronting SANNAM- searching for a sustainable trajectory into the future

1. Challenges confronting SANNAM- searching for a sustainable trajectory into the future SANNAM Chairman: Mafalo EP 2-4 November 2010 Burgers Park Hotel Pretoria

2. Background Society and Nurses have differing views towards nursing profession-images of nursing Mental representations of objects/events Influences our interactions, expectations towards others • The Public image of nursing is negative • Images of masculinity vsFamininity • Defining nurses as physician’s handmaidens • All the professions are subject to images that the public hold towards them • But nurses have self-concept that is positive • Analysis of challenges confronting SANNAM

3. Image of SANNAM • What is the image of SANNAM as a African Regional Network? • A public image of the Network by the nurses in the Southern African Region? • The significance attached to SANNAM • A network for HIV/AIDS and other Health Issues in the region • How is SANNAM viewed by the donor community (south and north)

4. Person-environment-fit Model • Characteristics of persons- environment-network/organizations, • Collective leadership attributes and demands of activities • Harmonious relationships between attributes of persons, environment and organization-(congruency or incompatibility) • Self-concept, role concept, self-esteem capacities and values

5. Person-Environment-Network Fit • Person (NNO leadership): self-believe, abilities and needs • Environment(Social system): Nursing Profession and practice –e.g PPE, believes by society- recognition and rewards- • psychological environment of nurses themselves, professional self-concept • Network(Sannam): self-directed, functional tasks and activities • Is there a FIT between Network-environment? • Is there a FIT between SANNAM and Donor participants?

6. Compatibility and harmony? • Harmonious relationships between network expectations, believes and values and the collaboration partners characteristics • Sharing of vision, achieving set objectives • Less conflicts, and less competing ground motives- (allowing network to express freely) • Overshadowing or enhancing the network imperatives • Network identity retained (regional ) • Reinforced desires by donor partners (unity) • The Network remains focused to its vision

7. challenges • Diverse leadership attributes, backgrounds, believes and values • Fifteen NNA and more than two collaboration support-base (different agendas) • Diverse communication media (languages) • Different expectations from member states and donor partners

8. Challenges… • Poor socio-economic conditions in the workplace • Political turmoil, impacting on NNO and Health systems (public image of nursing is stereotypical) • HFH crisis with high turnover-leading to solidarity funding initiative • Managing multiple partners (North-South Institute, Cordaid, CNA, Nona, ICN-led WFF, Equinet, • Self-confidence, self-esteem, self-concept + autonomy • Sustainability of SANNAM

9. Challenges… • Improve communication strategy (website, newsletter and format for information sharing)-electronic and printing media depiction of nursing profession • Fully supported Interpretation system

10. Strategic path • Recognition of potential capacity of the network • Developing sustainability strategy by network members • Support for individual leaders’ characteristics to enhance collectivism • Manage collaboration model efficiently through a policy framework for harmony • Expanding network beyond its original boundries, albeit within the Southern African context

11. Strategic Path… • The Network struggle to retain regional identity to continue ,whilst managing the competing donor ground motives • Recognize all prospective collaboration partners to address strategic objectives differently

12. conclution • Member states reduce internalizing the network stereotyping but improve self-image, self-esteem, confidence and sense of self-reliance and ultimate reality of self-sustained network.