Bachelor of Health Sciences in Nursing

Purpose

The four-year Nursing Science qualification is aimed at preparing clinically focused and service orientated independent professionals who will be able to render holistic and emancipatory nursing care in all spheres of health care (general, community health, mental health and midwifery).

Specifically, the purpose is to produce nurses who are competent to function within a district health system, with specific reference to Primary Health Care settings.

The focus will be on relevant, authentic and transformative learning experiences that recognise the significance of socio-linguistic meaning perspectives about health and disease as well as critical understanding of social, political, and economic determinants of health.

Rationale

South Africa has been and continues to experience a serious problem of nursing personnel shortage. The National Human Resources Plan for Health proposed an annual production of 3000 professional nurses by 2011 (Department of Health, 2006). The changing disease profile, exacerbated by the HIV/AIDS pandemic and its escalating toll on the lives of South Africans requires nurses who are able to think independently and solve problems in the work place. Furthermore, nursing is one of the most sought out health professions globally. An undergraduate Degree in nursing ensures that Durban University of Technology (DUT) contributes to the national and global strategy for increased production of nursing personnel; a category of health personnel that is fast becoming a scarce human resource globally.

There is a demand for undergraduate nursing education in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN).

Nursing is one of the most sought out health professions globally. An undergraduate Degree in Nursing contributes to the national and global strategy for increased production of nursing personnel; a category of health personnel that is fast becoming a scarce human resource globally.

The qualification will enable the learner to function as a clinically focused, service oriented, independent, registered professional nurse, who is able to render comprehensive care across all spheres of health, as determined by the appropriate legislative framework. In addition, qualifying learners will apply evidence based research to enhance nursing practice.

On successful completion of the qualification, the learners are eligible for registration with the South African Nursing Council as nurses (general, psychiatric and community health) and midwives. Furthermore, the qualification provides for progression to Postgraduate nursing studies and thus has a potential to contribute to the nation's efforts to increase both service and academic nurse practitioners.

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)

This qualification may be achieved in part through RPL in accordance with the policies and procedure of Durban University of Technology (DUT) upon presentation of relevant evidence that meets the Outcomes of the qualification.

This is to ensure that the purpose of the qualification is achieved. The following are standard statements for integrated assessment. However, these statements could be reworded within the context of the qualification.

Entry Requirements

The minimum entry requirement for this qualification is

• National Senior Certificate at Level 4.

Or

• National Certificate in Nursing at Level 4.

All modules are compulsory.

1. Demonstrate an in-depth and analytical understanding of the biomedical, biotechnological, and psychosocial principles, processes, theories and approaches in the practice of nursing.
2. Provide holistic nursing and midwifery care to individuals, families and communities across the lifespan within a district health system underpinned by a Primary Health Care and multidisciplinary approach.

> Range Statement: Includes nursing care of individuals (from conception to death), families, groups and communities with health problems/needs related to actual and/or potential altered states of biophysical and psychosocial functioning, including but not limited to understanding of national policies and programmes specific to particular communicable diseases such as comprehensive management of HIV/AIDS and antiretroviral treatment, DOTS and immunization programmes).

1. Evidence critical and comprehensive understanding of nursing and health care management theories in the management of a health care unit in all health care settings (PHC, midwifery, and hospital care).
2. Conduct and utilize research aimed at understanding and/or solving health related problems in all levels of health care in collaboration with peers.
3. Demonstrates a comprehensive and critical understanding of the ethical and professional principles and regulations in dealing with complex and problematic issues involving nursing personnel, clients and other members of the health care team.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1

• Integration of knowledge pertaining to the structure and functioning of the human body is evidenced in the provision of preventative, promotive, curative and rehabilitative health care.
• Integration of knowledge pertaining to understanding of types, structure, virulence and clinical management of various microbes (including pharmacological management) is evidenced in the provision of preventative, promotive, curative and rehabilitative health care.
• Interpretations of causal-relationships between health and disease evidence critical and analytic understanding of environmental determinants (global, physical, economic, and political) on access, attainment and maintenance of health.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 2

• Population-based promotive and preventive nursing interventions evidence an evaluative and analytical understanding of the district health system underpinned by a PHC delivery system.
• A coherent and critical understanding of the theoretical and scientific approach to planning, implementation and evaluation of nursing care provided to individuals (throughout the lifespan), families and communities at all levels of health care; including PHC, maternity and hospital-based care is demonstrated.
• Management of emergency and critical situations is underpinned by a comprehensive and systematic understanding of emergency and critical nursing principles and theory.
• Principles of restoration and rehabilitation are applied effectively in maximizing individual capabilities.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 3

• Health service planning evidences critical understanding of planning theories, models and approaches.
• Critical and integrated use of health informatics in the analysis and interpretation of health related contexts and/or problems inform decision-making.
• Human resource planning and development is underpinned by an in-depth and critical understanding of Human Resource (HR) management theories, models and approaches.
• Budgeting, finance and resource allocation shows in-depth and analytic understanding of public financial models.
• Critical and analytical appraisal of workplace situations and decision making is underpinned by in-depth and comprehensive understanding of nursing and health care management theories.
• Critical and integrated use of health informatics and personnel data in the analysis of situations in order to inform decision-making.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 4

• An informed and critical understanding of nursing research theory and methodology is evidenced through application in the investigation of health related problems.
• Effective retrieval and processing of information for critical engagement with nursing research and scholarship is undertaken.
• Scientific reports are compiled, documented and presented according to standards of the nursing scientific community.
• Research findings are utilised for advancement of nursing knowledge and practice.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 5

• Debates and position statements on ethical and professional issues surrounding the practice of nursing evidence critical and analytical thought, especially as these relate to:
• Bioethics and Nursing Ethics:

> Confidentiality and Informed Consent.

> Respect and autonomy.

> Euthanasia and the ethical debate.

> Distributive Justice and research.

• Advocacy and human rights.
• Ethical issues and moral theories.
• Professional Practice.

Integrated Assessment

Assessment will Endeavour to determine student competence in knowledge, skills and attitudes that underpin nursing practice through use of a variety of assessment strategies and approaches including assignments, projects, case studies, portfolios, clinical assessments, objective structured clinical examinations (OSCE) and simulated patients and thus ensuring the achievement of authentic, valid and reliable results. In addition, a capstone assessment integrating basic sciences (medical and social sciences) and clinical subjects aimed at assessing learner abilities in collecting, organizing, analysing, and interpreting information including ability to make logical and sound inferences based on information at hand will be carried in the final year of the qualification. Most importantly diagnostic, formative and summative assessment will be used.

Diagnostic Assessment

The Standardized Assessment Test for Access and Placement (SATAP) diagnostic test will be used in the first year of study to identify learner strengths and weaknesses so to be able to provide individualized teaching opportunities where warranted.

Formative Assessment

Feedback is an essential feature of the teaching/learning process. Hence, Formative assessment will form an integral part of the teaching/learning process and will be used primarily to inform decisions related to practices and/or approaches that need corrective interventions for both learners and teachers. Hence no grades will be assigned to such assessment-the sole purpose of which will be to provide feedback in order to enhance teaching and learning.

Summative Assessment

Learning is also aimed at achievement and competence. Summative assessment will be used to make judgments related to progression and competence with regard to attainment of specified learning outcomes at the end of an academic semester and/year and will include both theory and practical assessment.

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)

This qualification may be achieved in part through RPL in accordance with the policies and procedure of Durban University of Technology (DUT) upon presentation of relevant evidence that meets the Outcomes of the qualification.

This is to ensure that the purpose of the qualification is achieved. The following are standard statements for integrated assessment. However, these statements could be reworded within the context of the qualification.