RESEARCH INTERESTS

Current: 

• Non- Verbal Communication between nurses and older adults
• Malaria Health Education provided by nurses to pregnant women at antenatal clinics.
• Climate effect on the Covid 19 pandemic
• e- learning
• Patient centred foot care for patients diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

PhD study: 

An analysis of nurse managers’ human resources management related to HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis affected/infected nurses in selected hospitals in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa – an Ethnographic study

Grants: 

Sigma Tea Tau (STTI) small grants

The Howard Hughes Medical Institute, through the KwaZulu-Natal Research Institute for Tuberculosis and HIV (K-RITH)

Publications:

• Wanko Keutshafo, E.L & Kerr, J. 2022. Psychometric properties of the French version 

  of the Kogan’s Attitudes toward Older People scale: A cross-sectional study conducted on Cameroonian nursing students. Gerontology & Geriatrics Education, Taylor Francis

• Wanko Keutshafo, E.L., Kerr, J. & Baloyi, O. A Model for Effective Nonverbal Communication between Nurses and Older Patients: A Grounded Theory Inquiry Healthcare, MDPI
• Wanko Keutshafo, E.L & Kerr, J. Older Adults Interpretation of nurses’ nonverbal communication in Cameroon: A Grounded Theory Inquiry
• Wanko Keutshafo, E.L., Kerr, J., Baloyi, O. & Duma, S.E. Conditions influencing effective nurse nonverbal communication with hospitalized older adults in Cameroon.
• Pillay, Z., Kerr, J., & Ramukumba, M. 2022. Nurse Managers’ Views of Measures to Improve Nurse Retention at a Selected Hospital in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa Africa Journal of Nursing and Midwifery.
• Jury, M.R., Kerr, J. Seasonal Climate Effects on Influenza–Pneumonia Mortality and Public Health Weather, Climate, and Society.
• Wanko Keutchafo, E. Kerr, J. Jarvis, M. Kuupiel, D. 2021. Mapping evidence of nurses’ attitudes toward older adults in Africa: a scoping review protocol. BMC Nursing. doi: https://doi.org/10.1186/S12912-020-00443-9
• Wanko Keutchafo, E. Kerr, J. Jarvis, M. 2020. Evidence of nonverbal communication between nurses and older adults: a scoping review. BMC Nursing. doi: https://doi.org/10.1186/S12912-020-00443-9
• Wanko Keutchafo, E. Kerr, J. Cameroonian nursing students’ attitudes towards older adults. International Journal of Africa Nursing Sciences. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijans.2020.100215
• Wanko Keutchafo, E. Kerr, J. Difficulties of unit managers in selected district hospitals in Cameroon. Curationis, 42, (1). 
• Kerr, J. Mbele, Z.B. 2019. Evaluation of N95 respirator mask compliance in a selected hospital in KwaZulu-Natal. Occupational Health South Africa 25 (3):97-102
• Kerr, J. Singh, S. 2018. Undergraduate Nursing students’ attitudes and practices towards oral health self-care: A report from a university in South Africa. African Journal for Physical Activity and Health Sciences, 24(2), 143-155.
• Uwimana, M.C. Kerr, J.  2017. Exploring the factors contributing to the stress of nurses at a select urban teaching hospital in Rwanda. Africa Journal of Nursing and Midwifery 19 (1): 41 – 55.
• Kerr, J. Brysiewicz, P. & Bhengu, B. 2016. Developing Guidelines for managing a nursing workforce infected with HIV and TB in South African hospitals. Africa Journal of Nursing and Midwifery 18(2):87-102.
• Chipps, J. Kerr, J. Brysiewicz, P. Walters, F. 2015. A Survey of University Students’ Perceptions of Learning Management Systems in a Low-Resource Setting Using a Technology Acceptance Model. Computers, Informantics, Nursing Vol.33, no. 2, 71-77.
• Kerr, J. Brysiewicz, P. and Bhengu, B. R. 2014. Experiences of Nurse Managers in managing a work force who are HIV and/or TB infected. Africa Journal of Nursing and Midwifery. 16(2):1-13.
• Nishimwe, C. Kerr, J. The effectiveness of malaria health education provided to pregnant women by nurses at a selected health centre in Rwanda. Africa Journal of Nursing and Midwifery 14(2):63-76.
• McIntosh, J. Stellenberg, E.L. 2009. Effect of a Staffing Strategy based on voluntary increase in working hours on quality of patient care in a hospital in KwaZulu-Natal. Curationis 32 (2): 11-20.

Book Chapters

• Kerr, J., Bezuidenhoudt, M.C. 2021. Performance appraisal and productivity. Chapter in Dimensions of Healthcare Management. Editor: Bezuidenhoudt, M. Juta. ISBN: 9781485130611
• Kerr, J., Bezuidenhoudt, M.C. 2021. Models of care delivery. Chapter in Dimensions of Healthcare Management. Editor: Bezuidenhoudt, M. Juta. ISBN: 9781485130611

 Honours/Awards (include online reference for each honour/ award):

• Tau Lambda-at-large Chapter of Sigma Theta Tau International: The Presidential Award for the Best Published Article 2014
• Awarded the prize for the best practical midwife, during her midwifery training

Professional membership:

• Forum of University Nursing Deans of South Africa (FUNDISA)
• South African Nursing Council (SANC).
• Democratic Nursing Organization of South Africa (DENOSA)

CAREER

• She has had a varied career, commencing her training at Tygerberg Hospital in Cape Town; studied midwifery at Greys Hospital; taught at Carinus College, Grootte Schuur Hospital and Greys College of Nursing; practiced as an Occupational Health nurse in the Metal Box Liquid Packing plant in Isithebe and has worked as a medical representative for Adcock Ingram.
• Prof Kerr commenced her academic career at the University of KwaZulu-Natal in 2009 where she was actively involved in the refurbishing and relocation of the School of Nursing and Family Medicine skills laboratory and was involved in the procurement of specialized teaching equipment e.g. Sim Man and Sim Mom & Sim baby.

RESEARCH PRESENTATIONS

• She has had a varied career, commencing her training at Tygerberg Hospital in Cape Town; studied midwifery at Greys Hospital; taught at Carinus College, Grootte Schuur Hospital and Greys College of Nursing; practiced as an Occupational Health nurse in the Metal Box Liquid Packing plant in Isithebe and has worked as a medical representative for Adcock Ingram.
• Prof Kerr commenced her academic career at the University of KwaZulu-Natal in 2009 where she was actively involved in the refurbishing and relocation of the School of Nursing and Family Medicine skills laboratory and was involved in the procurement of specialized teaching equipment e.g. Sim Man and Sim Mom & Sim baby.

RESEARCH PRESENTATIONS

• 2017 3rd Southern African Malaria Conference (7-9 November 2017 – National Institute for Communicable Diseases [NICD]) The effectiveness of malaria health education provided to pregnant women by nurses at a selected health centre in Rwanda
• 2016 Human Resources for the South African Health System (28-29 November 2016 – CSIR Pretoria)

• Developing Guidelines for managing a nursing workforce infected with HIV and TB in South African Hospitals
• 2016 World Health Organization Collaborating Centres Conference (Glasgow, July)

• • Experiences managing a HIV and/or TB infected nursing workforce.
  • Nurse Managers Sickness disclosure experiences.

• 2014 International Conference of Women’s Issues (Cape Town, November)

• • Managing a workforce infected with HIV & TB in selected hospitals in South African hospitals

• 2013  University of KwaZulu-Natal College of Health Sciences research day

• • An analysis of nurse managers’ human resources management related to HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis affected/infected nurses in selected hospitals in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa – an Ethnographic study
  • presented a poster of her PhD at the STTI conference in Bloemfontein

• 2011 International Confederation of Midwives Conference (Durban, June)

• • Productivity and its implications for Midwifery Education and Practice
  • presented a discussion of staffing calculations at the International Midwives Conference (ICM) in Durba

• 2010 Teaching conference: Innovative teaching methods (Durban, July)

• • Nursing student experiences of the implementation of Turnitin at the University of KwaZulu-Natal.

• 2009 Stellenbosch University research day

• • An investigation into the effect of a staffing strategy on patient care in a selected hospital in KwaZulu-Natal

• 2009 University of KwaZulu-Natal College of Health Sciences research day

• • An investigation into the effect of a staffing strategy on patient care in a selected hospital in KwaZulu-Natal

POSTER PRESENTATIONS

2016 World Health Organization Collaborating Centres Conference (Glasgow, July):

• Sickness Presenteeism among Swazi Nurses

 2015 Global Innovation in Nursing and Midwifery Education and Research (Kigali, January):

• Exploring the factors contributing to stress and coping strategies of nurses at a selected University Teaching Hospital in Rwanda

2013 12th Tau Lambda-at-Large conference (Bloemfontein, August):

• Guidelines to assist Nurse Managers Human Resources Planning related to HIV/AIDS and/or Tuberculosis affected nurses at work.

TEACHING AND LEARNING

2009 attended and passed two M Ed modules for non-degree purposes i.e. Research supervision and Assessment in Higher Education.

Has actively encouraged the use of Moodle in her teaching and through students uploading assignments onto this platform has empowered previously computer illiterate nurses to exit her modules as computer literate individuals.

Was part of the lecture team, in the Seychelles, who taught the first cohort of Bachelor Degree qualified nurses of the Seychelles

Has extensively used tele – conference teaching as a means of delivering teaching to students living at distances from the University of KwaZulu-Natal

JOURNAL REVIEWER

1. Africa Journal of Nursing and Midwifery
2. International Nursing Review
3. International Emergency Nursing Journal
4. African Journal of Health Professions Education
5. Systematic Reviews
6. Africa’s Public Service Delivery and Performance Review
7. Curationis
8. Human Resources for Health
9. BMC Oral Health
10. International Journal of Africa Nursing Sciences

AWARDS
Tau Lambda-at-large Chapter of Sigma Theta Tau International: The Presidential Award for the Best Published Article 2014

Awarded the prize for the best practical midwife, during her midwifery training.