Sonja Lynn Walker

I am trained as a Nurse and Midwife. I am passionate about midwifery and believe this aspect of the profession has potential to contribute to the health and education of young people across the lifespan, beyond pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum care. I have always had a passion to teach and contribute to nursing research, more especially curriculum development to train clinically competent nurses who feel confident in practice and are proactive in preventing maternal and neonatal deaths. To do this, I think we need to look at nursing evaluations and understand how we can improve the link between knowledge and practical skill.

I have a Masters in advanced Midwifery and Neonatology and my thesis explored undergraduate nursing students’ level of affective learning with regard to rendering prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) services. A key finding was the effectiveness of reflective writing as a tool for learning within nursing education. I am currently pursuing my PhD which explores clinical competence amongst nursing graduates. Lastly, I would like to explore the feasibility of an entry, 3-year, midwifery programme in South Africa. I believe this would improve graduate competence and confidence in practice.

Qualifications:

Registered Nurse in (General nursing, Community Health and Psychiatry) and Midwifery

Diploma in Nursing Education

Master’s degree in Advanced Midwifery and Neonatology

Publications:

Journal related publications

• Assessing level of affective learning of undergraduate nursing students at a university in the Western Cape regarding rendering prevention of mother-to-child transmission services
  (2014)
• Lymphoedema management therapist on service provision of secondary lymphedema in South Africa (2014)

Conference related publications

• NLN 11th International Conference. The Campaign for Lymphedema Care: Perspectives, Evidence and Practices. September 3-7, 2014. Washington DC (Poster presentation: Title: A survey of lymphedema management therapist on service provision of secondary lymphedema in South Africa. (2014)

Book related publications

• Integrated Fundamental Nursing. Second Edition. 2017.
  (2017)

• Prevention of Mother to Child HIV Transmission (PMTCT): Cape Town: SJR Printers. ISBN NO: 978-1-86808-715-0. (2008)

Thesis

• The Effect of a Breastfeeding Intervention Program on the Knowledge of Pregnant Women at the Bishop Lavis Clinic (2001)

ORCID: 0000-0002-6221-9695