Makhotso Merriam Ralehike | Nursing and Health Professions | Innovative Research Award

Posted on by Phenomenological Research

Innovative Research Award

Makhotso Merriam Ralehike – University of Pretoria, South Africa

Makhotso Merriam Ralehike
Affiliation University of Pretoria
Country South Africa
ORCID 0009-0009-2006-366X
Document 1
Subject Area Nursing and Health Professions
Event International Phenomenological Research Awards

Makhotso Merriam Ralehike is a South African nursing professional, occupational health practitioner, nurse educator, and bioethics specialist affiliated with the University of Pretoria. Her academic and professional activities focus on occupational health, nursing ethics, healthcare quality, rural health systems, patient safety, and evidence-based nursing practice. Through clinical service, educational leadership, and emerging scholarly contributions, she has developed expertise relevant to contemporary healthcare challenges and nursing policy development.[1]

Abstract

Makhotso Merriam Ralehike has developed a multidisciplinary professional profile integrating nursing practice, occupational health, healthcare ethics, education, and rural healthcare research. Her work addresses healthcare quality, workforce wellbeing, patient safety, and ethical challenges within resource-constrained environments. Her published research on nurses’ experiences in water-scarce healthcare clinics contributes to understanding healthcare delivery challenges in South Africa and supports evidence-informed policy and professional practice improvements.[2]

Keywords

Nursing Science, Occupational Health Nursing, Bioethics, Rural Healthcare, Healthcare Quality, Patient Safety, Nursing Education, Evidence-Based Practice, Health Policy, Clinical Leadership.

Introduction

The nursing profession increasingly requires practitioners who combine clinical expertise with ethical leadership, occupational health knowledge, educational competence, and research engagement. Ralehike’s professional development reflects this interdisciplinary approach through service in critical care, occupational health, nursing education, and healthcare management. Her academic progression includes advanced qualifications in nursing education, labour law, disaster management, HIV and TB management, occupational health nursing, and bioethics, supporting a broad perspective on healthcare systems and workforce development.[1][2]

Research Profile

As a PhD candidate in Nursing Science at the University of Pretoria, Makhotso Merriam Ralehike focuses on nursing ethics, occupational health, healthcare quality, rural health systems, and patient-centered care. Her academic interests emphasize ethical responsibilities within healthcare environments, particularly where infrastructure limitations influence professional practice and patient outcomes. Her educational background provides a foundation for examining healthcare challenges through clinical, legal, ethical, and organizational perspectives.[1]

Research Contributions

Makhotso Merriam Ralehike’s principal scholarly contribution investigates the lived experiences of nurses working in healthcare clinics affected by water scarcity within the Maluti-A-Phofung district of South Africa. The study explores how environmental and infrastructural limitations affect healthcare delivery, professional obligations, and patient care standards. By documenting frontline nursing experiences, the research contributes evidence relevant to healthcare planning, nursing regulation, occupational wellbeing, and service quality improvement initiatives.[2]

Publications

Makhotso Merriam Ralehike’s most significant publication examines nurses’ lived experiences within healthcare clinics experiencing water scarcity in South Africa’s Free State Province. The study highlights ethical responsibilities, operational challenges, healthcare quality concerns, and workforce resilience in resource-constrained settings while providing evidence relevant to nursing policy, occupational health, healthcare infrastructure planning, and patient safety improvements across underserved communities.[2]

Research Impact

The practical relevance of Ralehike’s research lies in its focus on real-world healthcare challenges affecting nurses and patients in rural and resource-limited environments. Her work contributes to broader discussions concerning healthcare equity, workplace conditions, ethical accountability, and sustainable healthcare delivery. Such evidence supports policymakers, healthcare managers, educators, and practitioners seeking improvements in healthcare infrastructure and service provision.[2]

Award Suitability

Makhotso Merriam Ralehike demonstrates attributes aligned with recognition under the International Phenomenological Research Awards through her investigation of lived professional experiences in healthcare settings. Her interdisciplinary expertise spanning nursing science, occupational health, ethics, and education supports research that addresses human experiences within complex healthcare environments. The phenomenological orientation of her published work and its relevance to healthcare practice, policy, and professional wellbeing provide a strong basis for consideration within research recognition initiatives.[2]

Conclusion

Makhotso Merriam Ralehike represents an emerging nursing scholar whose professional experience, advanced academic preparation, and healthcare research collectively contribute to nursing science and occupational health practice. Her focus on ethical healthcare delivery and lived experiences within resource-constrained clinical environments supports ongoing efforts to improve healthcare quality, workforce wellbeing, and evidence-based policy development in South Africa.[1][2]

References

  1. ORCID. (n.d.). Makhotso Merriam Ralehike – ORCID Profile. https://orcid.org/0009-0009-2006-366X
  2. Ralehike, M.M., Mulaudzi, M.F., Sepeng, N.V., & Nyandeni, S. (2026). Lived experience of nurses working in healthcare clinics that are experiencing water scarcity, in Maluti-A-Phofung district, Free State Province, South Africa. International Journal of Africa Nursing Sciences. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijans.2026.101114

Amanda Lee | Nursing and Health Professions | Best Researcher Award

Posted on by Phenomenological Research

Dr Amanda Lee | Nursing and Health Professions | Best Researcher Award

Snr Lecturer at Manchester Metropolitan University, United Kingdom.

Dr. Amanda Lee is a globally recognized academic leader, nurse practitioner, and health sciences researcher whose career spans over three decades and four continents. With qualifications in adult nursing, midwifery, and advanced clinical practice, she has made outstanding contributions to clinical care, higher education, health policy, and interdisciplinary research. Holding a PhD in Health Sciences with a specialization in cancer epidemiology, Dr. Lee has developed pioneering methodologies that integrate health and geospatial sciences to improve healthcare planning. She is known not only for her scholarly output but also for her leadership in shaping transnational education programs and advising governmental healthcare bodies in the UK, Australia, Singapore, and China.

Profile:

Education:

Dr. Lee’s academic journey reflects a profound commitment to lifelong learning. She holds a PhD in Health Sciences from the University of Hull, an MSc in Nurse Practitioner studies from Curtin University in Australia, a BSc Hons in Midwifery from Leeds University, and several postgraduate diplomas in education and advanced nursing practice. Her broad academic foundation across nursing, midwifery, education, and research methodology has empowered her to lead in both clinical and academic environments with confidence and authority.

💼 Professional Experience:

Dr. Amanda Lee is a seasoned healthcare academic and leader with over 30 years of diverse professional experience spanning clinical practice, higher education, research, and international consultancy. She has held senior roles such as Executive Dean, Associate Dean (International), and Senior Lecturer across institutions in the UK, Australia, and Asia. Her career highlights include leading transnational nursing programs, supervising PhD students, securing competitive research funding, and advising government health bodies on advanced practice, non-medical prescribing, and educational strategy. Clinically, she has served as a neonatal nurse, ward sister, and nurse practitioner, and academically, she has managed multidisciplinary teams and developed inclusive, evidence-informed curricula for global healthcare education.

🧪 Research Excellence:

With over 41 peer-reviewed publications, an h-index of 12, and more than 740 citations, Dr. Lee is a prolific contributor to the global body of knowledge in health sciences. Her research interests include cancer epidemiology, nursing education, health geographics, and community-based interventions. Notably, her PhD work developed an innovative population health model using geographical data to anticipate healthcare needs—a methodology with broad interdisciplinary relevance. She has successfully secured major grants, serving as both Principal Investigator and Co-Investigator on nationally and internationally funded research projects.

🌍 Global Impact & Leadership:

Dr. Lee’s influence transcends borders. She has led international collaborations in China, Saudi Arabia, and India, and has designed and implemented transnational nursing degree programs. She is a Visiting Professor at Yangzhou University in China and has advised national healthcare bodies including the UK’s MHRA and Australia’s Nursing and Midwifery Council. Her role as Executive Dean at the Global Banking School involved leading 300+ staff across 10+ campuses and overseeing educational strategies for over 10,000 students. She was instrumental in developing nurse-led clinics in Australia and advising on non-medical prescribing initiatives in Singapore.

🏅 Awards & Recognition:

Dr. Lee has held prestigious appointments, such as serving on editorial boards of top journals including Nurse Education in Practice, BMJ Open, and Journal of Clinical Nursing. She is a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (SFHEA) and an accredited researcher with the UK Office for National Statistics. In 2024, she was honored as an international judge for the Saudi Government’s health research awards, recognizing her global expertise in patient safety and critical care.

Publications:

  • Cognitive impairment and dementia – Are they linked to childhood health and socioeconomic status? A systematic review

  • ‘Hearing silences’: Exploring culturally safe transitional care: A qualitative study among Turkish-speaking migrant frail older adults

  • Effectiveness of spontaneous pushing versus Valsalva pushing in the second stage of labor on maternal and neonatal outcomes: A systematic review and meta-analysis

  • Beliefs, attitudes and experiences of virtual overdose monitoring services from the perspectives of people who use substances in Canada: A qualitative study

  • Diverse Molecular Structures Across The Whole Star-Forming Disk of M83: High fidelity Imaging at 40pc Resolution

  • Severe Loneliness and Isolation in Nursing Students during COVID-19 Lockdown: A Phenomenological Study

  • Trajectory analysis of the work and life experience of healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic: A longitudinal qualitative study

  • Predictors of long-term survival in 5,680 patients admitted to a UK major trauma centre with thoracic injuries

  • Experiences of domestic violence prevention interventions and gender equality promotion work: A qualitative study of Nirdhar Groups in rural India

  • Anxiety and sleep quality among front-line nurses treating first wave COVID-19 in China: The mediating role of mindfulness