The Faculty of Health and Wellness Sciences recently hosted a creative, hands-on Breast Cancer event for students – showing them how to do self-checks and why early detection matters.

October is Breast Cancer Awareness month, and the event’s main message was early detection saves lives. 

Dr Lizel Hudson, Work-Integrated Learning and Language Coordinator in the Faculty, said the initiative was driven by students for students, with Nursing Science and Medical Imaging and Therapeutic Sciences students taking the lead.

“The amazing team from Nursing Science said they wanted to do something for the students — to create not only awareness about breast cancer, but also to teach them how to do a breast self-examination. It’s a powerful tool that is often neglected. We wanted to show them what to look out for and why it’s important,” she explained.

At the HIV/AIDS Unit, students could participate in demonstrations to learn the correct technique for performing a breast self-examination and conduct their own examinations.

One of the highlights of the event was the creative use of sweets with different textures to help explain the differences between normal and abnormal breast tissue.

“Tumours come in all shapes and sizes, but this gave students something tangible and sensory to remember: if it feels like the hard sweet, get it checked.”

Hudson thanked the Faculty leadership, CANSA, the Nursing Science Department, and the students for their support.

Written by Ilse Fredericks
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The Nursing Science Department can add another trophy to its case after graduate Helene Mausling walked away with the Ian Webster Silver Medal Award.

Helene, who studied part-time and completed her BTech: Occupational Health Nursing in 2017, received the award during the recent SA Society of Occupational Health Nursing Practitioners (SASOHN) National Conference held at the Spier Conferencing Centre.

She scored the highest marks in the country for the course.

“I did not expect to receive an award at all. I feel very honoured that an institution like SASOHN will recognise and reward a student in such a way,” said Mausling. 

Prof Karien Jooste, Head of the Department of Nursing Science, said CPUT scored a double win this year.

Not only was Mausling the overall winner but because of the marginal difference between her mark and that of another CPUT graduate, Yolanda Koorzen, the executive decided to award Koorzen a medal as well.

Koorzen will receive her award at the first function hosted by the Western Cape SASOHN Committee in 2019.

Mausling said her grandmother and aunt were both nursing sisters but it was not until a friend started working in the field that she gained an inside look into nursing.
“That persuaded me to pursue a career in nursing. I have not looked back since as I feel this is my calling.”

She said it was difficult to juggle her studies, work and family life but that she always made time for her family and friends.

“I still remember what one of my lecturers told me as I started as a student nurse. She said that even if you don’t feel like studying you just grab your collar and put yourself down in front of your books and figuratively that is what I did.”

• Each year training institutions across South Africa, who offer a post-basic degree programme in Occupational Health Nursing, are invited to submit the names of students who achieved 75% or above to SASOHN to assess eligibility for the Ian Webster Silver Medal Award.

The SASOHN National Educational Representative and the SASOHN National executive members then review all the submissions for the highest mark attained. Recipients have to hold SASOHN membership.

This award was donated to SASOHN by Prof Ian Webster on his retirement from the National Research Institute for Occupational Diseases in 1998 and is awarded annually.

Written by Ilse Fredericks
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Preparations are in full swing for the Department of Nursing Science to welcome its first group of mainstream 4-year undergraduate students to the Bellville Campus next year.

 Prof Karien Jooste, Head of the Department of Nursing Science, said this is ground-breaking as CPUT previously only offered post-basic programmes. The first cohort would consist of 30 mainstream students.

She said the new one-year postgraduate qualifications (previously two years Level 7) will be offered on the higher NQF Level 8, also putting Nursing in a much better position in terms of student subsidies.

Jooste said the staff complement has grown and facilities, including the clinical skills laboratory, had been upgraded. She complimented senior management and supporting departments for their support.

Prefabricated classrooms will accommodate the new students as a temporary solution.

She managed the internal review of the five campuses and the 2018 report was positive. This is helpful in preparing for the upcoming accreditation of the new programmes from the SA Nursing Council.

“The focus in the department is firmly on empowerment and capacity building. We want to take CPUT Nursing Sciences to new heights. Staff members are encouraged to partake in conferences, organisations, committees, furthering their studies and research projects. Apart from teaching there is a shift towards research and community involvement and partnerships with neighbouring universities, international universities, private sector and Government,” said Jooste.

Written by Ilse Fredericks
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The commitment demonstrated by a student in the Department of Nursing Science has earned her one of The Exceptional Student Nurse Bursary Awards for 2023.

The Department of Nursing Science nominated three students for the Exceptional Student Nurse Bursary Award and fourth-year student, Chance Uwamahoro, was selected as one of the recipients.

According to the department, she has demonstrated the four qualities – competence, compassion, commitment and courage during her third-year of theoretical and clinical training in the new Bachelor of Nursing Programme.

The vision of The Exceptional Nurse Campaign (TEN) is to see exceptional nursing care practised at every hospital and clinic in South Africa.

Their aim is to raise the status of the nursing profession by promoting a culture of honour and gratitude towards all.

Chance said she has wanted to work in the medical field “for as long as I can remember”.

“It was in Grade 11 when I decided that I wanted to do nursing. I chose nursing out of all other medical fields because I believe nursing is the first line of defence when it comes to patients. Nurses have the most interaction with patients in any setting, whether a hospital or clinic. I wanted to be a nurse who will give hope to my patients in the most vulnerable times of their life. I want to encourage [them] and put a smile back on their face.”

She said that when she received the news that she had been awarded the bursary, she was beyond shocked and felt ecstatic.

“I was shocked because I have always struggled to get a bursary because I am an international student, so when I got the news, I was in disbelief and moved to tears. I have not received such amazing academic news since I got my acceptance letter into the nursing department.

“This bursary means a lot to me and my family, not only because it relieves some financial burden, but it also gave me an encouragement to always give and do my best no matter the circumstances. I can only imagine the great things ahead.”

The bursary will contribute towards her university tuition fees.

Chance will be part of the first cohort to complete the new Bachelor of Nursing degree in 2023.

Written by Ilse Fredericks
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