PROFESSIONAL NURSING-CARE IN TANZANIA - A DESCRIPTIVE STUDY OF NURSING-CARE IN ILEMBULA-LUTHERAN-HOSPITAL IN TANZANIA

The purpose of this ethnonursing study is to find new knowledge of the professional nursing care practised in a Bantu cultural context in Ta nzania, The main questions are: How do Bantu nurses describe nursing? What components are there in professional nursing care in Ilembula Lut heran Hospital? The data were collected through participant observatio n, interviews and personal working diaries in Ilembula Lutheran Hospit al. Six Tanzanian nurses were interviewed, The findings indicated that nursing was based on formal training on one hand, and on a natural mo ther-child relationship on the other hand, The idea of respect towards life, which is central to the Bantu philosophy of life, guided nursin g care. In professional nursing care there emerged curing and caring c omponents. Protection, encouragement and comfort were distinguished as the main constructs of caring.