Challenges facing healthcare workers who were at the frontline of the pandemic were researched for a Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree from UKZN’s Graduate School of Business and Leadership.
The researcher was clinical technologist, Ms Rakhee Ramnarain and the study secured her a cum laude MBA.
The title of her dissertation – supervised by Professor Cecile Gerwel Proches – was: The Impact of the Coronavirus Pandemic on the Wellbeing of Healthcare Workers in a Haemodialysis Facility in KwaZulu-Natal.
Ramnarain conducted her studies when COVID-19 was rampant. ‘Working in the midst of the pandemic was emotional as we could see first-hand the agony the country was facing and the fortitude to switch back into studying for a future with such an uncertain present was difficult in itself,’ she said.
Due to the nature of her job she was exposed to COVID-19 patients at times so she had to stay away from family and friends in order to protect them from the virus. However, she turned a miserable, demanding time into a highly productive session resulting in her obtaining an 80% pass for her research work. ‘The MBA became a distraction from reality which in a way helped me through that time. Although the study was very challenging, it was also very rewarding as I gained a lot of knowledge,’ she said.
Ramnarain’s study highlighted the challenges facing healthcare workers in the dialysis field who were at the frontline of the pandemic and how important it was to adopt a systemic perspective when focusing on creating a healthy workplace.
The MBA is Ramnarain’s second master’s degree – she also has a master’s qualification in clinical technology specialising in Nephrology.
With 23 years of experience in the field, she has for several years been in private practice as co-founder and owner of four dialysis facilities situated around KwaZulu-Natal providing a service for patients with kidney failure.
She says her newly acquired academic qualification has enhanced her business skills and abilities while also reinforcing her existing leadership capabilities. She recommends postgraduate studies to professionals as she believes they have the power to break barriers and accelerate growth.
One of the strategies for success used by Ramnarain during her studies was surrounding herself with a strong support structure, including her work team at Renal Care Team Dialysis, her co-owner Mr Simo Nkala, their incredible staff, and her loving family.
She says while teaching and learning were conducted remotely due to the pandemic, she values the network she has built with classmates through online platforms: ‘The MBA class of 2023 were such wonderful and knowledgeable people, and we always assisted each other. Through the MBA journey I met two incredible people – Thalia Chetty and Abdulbaqi Badru – who I turned to when things got difficult. We struggled together and I’m so glad we now share this achievement as we graduate together.’
‘I am proud of my achievements which just proves that being the best you can be is all that is needed. Education is something that no one can take, steal, or borrow from you, it is something that is yours for life. I am sure that after a bit of a break, I may miss it and want to study again!’
She is indebted to her parents for the sacrifices they made to provide a better life for her and her siblings: ‘Their passion and belief in education and never-ending learning are the reason I am still in academia,’ she said.
Gerwel Proches congratulated Ramnarain saying: ‘I would like to congratulate Rakhee on this excellent achievement and for persevering through the demands of the MBA and dissertation, all while navigating the complexities of being a leader in the healthcare sector, amidst the pandemic.’
Words: Hazel Langa
Photograph: Sethu Dlamini