The University of Johannesburg’s Occupational Health Practice (UJ OHP) at the Doornfontein Campus has been recognised for its exceptional standards, achieving a top rating for compliance in Gauteng. Under the expert leadership of Sister Miranda Tshabangu and Sister Maegan Abels, the clinic recently underwent a rigorous audit by the South African Society of Occupational Health Nursing Practitioners (SASOHN), scoring an impressive 96%.
This outstanding result places the UJ OHP at the forefront of occupational health practices in the region. The audit, conducted to evaluate the clinic’s adherence to Occupational Health Practice standards, guidelines and regulations, underscores the high level of professionalism upheld by the team.
The audit undertaken by SASOHN, is completely voluntary. Sister Tshabangu and Sister Abels shared that they indicated their willingness to get audited due to a desire to affirm that they are offering services of a high standard to the University and its community.
“I wanted the clinic to be compliant, to ensure that we provide a high quality service to the UJ community. A service that is line with regulations, SASOHN guidelines and the Occupational Health and Safety Act and its regulations (Act No 85 of 1993)”, says Sr Tshabangu.
She had also, one more reason and a bigger vision, to encourage collaboration across something that came from her strong desire to impart the skills and knowledge she has acquired in the three decades she has been an OHNP to future practitioners.
“My dream is to share the knowledge I have accumulated with future generations. To this end, we hope to start working with the South African Nursing Council (SANC) as well as the UJ Faculty of Health Sciences, to create a work-integrated learning programme for their students within the Nursing Department. We are still in the process of getting all the necessary approvals, but we hope to be able to take in our first cohort of students in 2025.”
She added that the audit outcome gave them the confidence that they will train the students appropriately and equip them with hands on experience and knowledge. “I hope that the time those students will spend with us, will allow them to appreciate the field even more!” Sister Tshabangu added.
Working in tandem with Sister Tshabangu was Sister Abels, the nurse and OHP practitioner who runs the DFC clinic, who did the work of preparing for the audit in 2023 and 2024. The result came to 82% last year. Sister Abels was not discouraged, but she instead worked tirelessly to ensure that they got a higher rating this year.
The preparation for the audit was rigorous and required attention to detail to get ahead. Sister Abels shared that her manager and mentor’s attitude gave her the motivation to succeed.
“Sister Tshabangu’s drive, and determination have certainly rubbed off on me. Her belief that we can achieve 100% on an audit, gave me the motivation to succeed. I don’t think I had an option for it to not rub off on me. I felt that she threw me in the deep end, but she has held my hand throughout the process, in fact we jumped into the deep end together!”
The pair have developed a professional relationship that is made up of mutual trust and a respect that runs deep. As a woman of faith, Sister Tshabangu said this is what she hoped for- to be able to establish a team that is efficient, professional and hardworking, that will earn its place as one of the trusted departments in the University.
The audit score also qualifies the UJ OHP for the National Audits scheduled for later in 2024. This opportunity will allow the clinic to showcase its standards on a national platform, further solidifying its reputation as a leader in occupational health.
“The audit later this year will also come with the opportunity to be crowned Occupational Health Practice of the year, and to have Occupational Health Nurse Practitioner of the Year.“I keep dreaming about that moment when Maegan, and our practice are announced as the winners!, said Sister Tshabangu.
Says Prof Bettine van Vuuren, the Registrar at UJ who also oversees the campus clinics: “For the University this achievement holds profound significance. It reflects our broader commitment to excellence and the well-being of its staff and students. The top compliance rating ensures that the campus community benefits from a safe and healthy environment, supported by a clinic that meets the highest standards of occupational health care. The performance of our Doornfontein Campus clinic reflects our University’s commitment to excellence in all areas. This achievement not only enhances the health services available to our community but is also a testament that our Occupational Health Practice remains dedicated to upholding the highest standards of care for all its members.”
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