Prof. Yvonne Botma | Health Professions | Best Researcher Award

Researcher, University of the Free State, South Africa

Prof. Yvonne Botma is an Emeritus Professor of Nursing at the University of the Free State, South Africa, with a career spanning over three decades in nursing education. A recognized expert in curriculum development, she has consulted widely across Africa, shaping nursing education programmes to meet international standards. Her work has been pivotal in advancing competency-based training for nurses, particularly in HIV/AIDS and TB care. Prof. Botma’s academic and professional achievements have made her a leader in nursing education, both in South Africa and beyond.

Profile

Scopus Profile

Education

Prof. Yvonne Botma holds an extensive academic background in nursing, with all her degrees earned from the University of the Free State (UFS), South Africa. She completed her Ph.D. in Nursing in 1992, preceded by an M.Soc.Sc. in Nursing in 1983, an Hons.B.Soc.Sc. in Nursing in 1981, and a B.Soc.Sc. in Nursing in 1979. Additionally, she holds various diplomas, including a Postgraduate Diploma in International Research Ethics from the University of Cape Town (2005), as well as diplomas in Nursing Administration (1986) and Nursing Education (1983), both from UFS.

Professional Experience

Prof. Botma has dedicated over three decades to the University of the Free State (UFS), where she served in the School of Nursing from 1987 until 2022. From 1999 to 2017, she held the position of Associate Professor, advancing to Full Professor from 2018 to 2022. In 2023, she was appointed Emeritus Professor at UFS. Her distinguished career also includes extensive educational consultancy work, such as curriculum development for nurse assistant programmes in Lesotho and midwifery training in Zambia, alongside numerous reviews for nursing programmes and higher education frameworks across Africa.

Research Interst

Prof. Botma’s research interests lie in nursing education, curriculum development, preceptorship in nursing, and HIV/AIDS and TB training. She has contributed to multiple international initiatives, including the Nursing Education Partnership Initiative (NEPI) and collaborations with the University of Columbia, focused on competency-based curricula for African nurse training institutions.

Academic awards

2022: Received the Kerneels Nel Award at the Faculty of Health Sciences Research Forum for the best qualitative educational published article for the paper:
Nyoni CN, Hugo-Van Dyk L, Botma Y. (2021) Clinical placement models for undergraduate health professions students: A scoping review. BMC Medical Education, 21:598. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12909-021-03023-w

2021: Kerneels Nel Award for the best qualitative educational published article for the paper:
Spies C, Botma Y. (2020) Optimising simulation learning experiences for mature, postgraduate nursing students. Nurse Education in Practice, 47:102834.

2020: Kerneels Nel Award for the paper:
Nyoni C, Botma Y. (2019) Implementing a competency-based midwifery programme in Lesotho: A gap analysis. Nurse Education in Practice, 34:72-78.

2016: Rated C2 by the National Research Foundation.

2016: Inducted into the Hall of Fame for Research Excellence in Nursing by FUNDISA at the 27th International Nursing Research Congress held in Cape Town, South Africa.

2015: Received the Nursing Education Association Excellence Award for Leadership in Nursing Education for her visionary role in establishing an interprofessional education programme for health professionals.

2015: Kerneels Nel Award for the paper:
Botma Y. (2014) Implications of accreditation criteria when transforming a traditional nursing curriculum to a competency-based curriculum. International Journal of African Nursing Science, 1:23-28.

2014: Kerneels Nel Award for the paper:
Botma Y, Hurter S, Kotze R. (2013) Responsibilities of nursing schools with regard to peer mentoring. Journal of Nursing Education Today, 33(8):808-813.

2013: Kerneels Nel Award for the paper:
Reid M, Botma Y. (2012) A framework to expand public health care services to HIV exposed/positive children. African Journal of AIDS Research, 11(2):91-98.

2010: Kerneels Nel Award for the paper:
De Villiers J, Botma Y, Seale I. (2009) Competence through an authentic integrated assessment strategy for wound care in nursing. Journal for New Generations Sciences, 7(2):59-74.

Conclusion

Prof. Yvonne Botma’s outstanding qualifications, extensive work in nursing education, curriculum development, and her research contributions in South Africa and beyond make her a highly suitable candidate for the Research for Best Researcher Award. Her long-standing dedication to the improvement of nursing education, especially through international collaboration, is noteworthy and deserving of recognition.

Publication Top Notes

Masava, B., Nyoni, C.N., & Botma, Y. (2024). Usability of standards for scaffolding in a health sciences programme: A feasibility study. BMC Nursing, 23(1), 309.
Foale, S., Botma, Y., & Heyns, T. (2024). Mindfulness-based interventions to support the wellbeing of adults in low socio-economic settings: A realist review. BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies, 24(1), 52.
Botma, Y., Herselman, H., & Heyns, T. (2024). Understanding of ‘person-centred care’ in an oncology ICU: Associative group analysis. Heliyon, 10(19), e38592.
Motlolometsi, M.W., Botma, Y., & Hugo, L. (2024). The primary health care environment and the performance of advanced antenatal care trained nurse-midwives in South Africa. African Journal of Reproductive Health, 28(7), 102–113.
Molise, N.A., Botma, Y., & Van Jaarsveldt, D. (2024). A socially constructed framework for culturally congruent nursing curriculum transformation in Lesotho: A multi-methods approach. International Journal of Africa Nursing Sciences, 21, 100777.
Nyoni, C.N., Botma, Y., & Hugo-van Dyk, L. (2024). Doctoral contribution to nursing science in Sub-Saharan Africa: A document review. Nursing Science Quarterly, 37(1), 64–70.
Brittz, K., Botma, Y., & Heyns, T. (2024). Twelve tips for creating online learning units for the health professions in low-and middle-income countries. Medical Teacher, 46(5), 626–632.
Fourie, C., Botma, Y., & Botha, B.S. (2024). High-fidelity burns moulage makes simulations “Come Alive”. Teaching and Learning in Nursing, 19(1), e190–e195.

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Yvonne Botma | Health Professions | Best Researcher Award