Bachelor of Nursing

Purpose

On successful completion of this qualification, the learner is eligible for registration with the South African Nursing Council as a professional nurse and midwife. The Nursing Act, No 33 of 2005, defines a professional nurse as one who: "is educated and competent to practice comprehensive nursing, assumes responsibility and accountability for independent decision making in such practice, and is registered and licensed as a professional nurse under the Nursing Act."

More specifically, the qualification aims to

• Produce competent professional nurse practitioners within a range of health service settings.
• Provide qualifying learners with a variety of skills, knowledge and attitudes that will enable them to make a meaningful and sustained contribution to health services.
• Equip qualifying learners with a developed sense of equity, justice and service ethics that will ensure that they work in a responsible and accountable manner irrespective of their chosen workplace.
• Offer a wide range of transferable skills for application in other professions, disciplines and general life. These include:

> A systematic problem-solving approach.

> Empowerment based development of self and others.

> Competence in written and oral communication.

> Capacity to assess and implement health and other policies.

> Ability to plan, implement and manage projects of varied nature.

> Research capacity.

The qualifying learner who completes this qualification will be able to

• Apply knowledge of the theory of biological and natural sciences, psycho-social sciences and pharmacology in the provision of comprehensive nursing and midwifery care.
• Develop, implement and evaluate population-based health care.
• Assess, plan, implement and evaluate nursing care for individuals and groups throughout the lifespan.
• Promote health, prevent ill-health, provide nursing care and promote rehabilitation of individuals and groups independently.
• Utilise research in nursing and health-related problems to improve health care outcomes.
• Manage health care facilities.
• Demonstrate professional and clinical leadership.
• Promote the professional development of self and others.
• Demonstrate clinical judgment and critical thinking.
• Register as a Professional Nurse and Midwife with the South African Nursing Council.

Rationale

This qualification enables the learner to function as a clinically focused, service-orientated, independent registered professional Nurse and Midwife who can render comprehensive care across all spheres of health, as determined by the appropriate legislative framework.

Comprehensive nursing is "Nursing interventions that integrate and apply the scientific process of the full range of nursing i.e. general, community, obstetric, and mental health that promote and maintain the health status of health care users in all contexts of health care delivery."

Reports on the status of nursing in the country indicate a growing gap between the demand and supply of professional Nurses and Midwives, a decline in learners entering the nursing profession and an ageing population of professional Nurses. The drop of learners has been a matter of great concern to the South African Nursing Council and the Ministry of Health. There were discussions of the problem in the Human Resources Plan for Health, which the Minister of Health launched in April 2006, and the emphasis on recruitment of more learners into professional nursing. The qualification is seen as imperative to increase the number of competent Nurses entering the profession and to promote further studies for qualifying learners to Postgraduate qualifications.

The learner will have obstetric skills, mental health, and primary health care (first level contact and provision of health services with a referral system in operation when cases are beyond their scope) knowledge. A person with this qualification will work with all patients, stabilised or not, and take responsibility for health care in any context. Also, the learner will take responsibility for managing nursing care in a health care facility. The qualification will provide the learner with a comprehensive view of the field and the necessary skills to screen patients and make a referral as required.

There is a strong need for Nurses and Midwives to promote the quality of health care in South Africa. They initiate quality measures and take full responsibility for all nursing and midwifery practice. There is recognition in the health care field of the need to benchmark practices and work towards quality improvement. To this end, the qualification makes provision for a robust research component. After having developed their practical skills, Professional Nurses will act as professional team leaders, typically deployed as a unit and zone managers. Professional Nurses and Midwives will look at developing the capacity of other team members.

The qualification, while solidly grounded in practice, is intended to provide access to further academic routes and provides for high-quality learning opportunities with a focus on specialisation and research.

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)

As per the institutional policy, learners can obtain credits towards this qualification using Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL). Prospective learners' who intend to enter into the qualification must follow Guidelines stipulated in the RPL policy of the institution and the South African Nursing Council (SANC, 2009).

Entry Requirements

The minimum entry requirements for this qualification are;

• Senior Certificate, NQF Level 4 with endorsement.

Or

• National Senior Certificate, NQF Level 4, granting access to Bachelors' Degree studies.

This qualification comprises compulsory modules at NQF Levels 5, 6, 7 and 8 totalling 512 Credits.

Modules, Level 5: 120 Credits

• Communication for Academic Purpose, 10 Credits.
• Computer Literacy, 10 Credits.
• Academic Literacy, 2 Credits.
• Life Skills, 2 Credits.
• General Anatomy I, 12 Credits.
• General Microbiology I, 6 Credits.
• General Physiology I, 12 Credits.
• Introduction to Pharmacology in Nursing I, 6 Credits.
• Education and Management in Nursing I, 6 Credits.
• Nursing Ethos and Professional Practice I, 9 Credits.
• Nursing Theory and Practice I, 24 Credits.
• Clinical Nurse Training I (WIL), 15 Credits.
• Parasitology I, 6 Credits.

Modules at NQF Level 6, 132 Credits

• General Anatomy II, 12 Credits.
• General Physiology II, 12 Credits.
• Applied Pharmacology in Nursing II, 6 Credits.
• Psycho-Social Science I, 12 Credits.
• Introduction to Midwifery, 6 Credits.
• Education and Management in Nursing II, 6 Credits.
• Nursing Ethos and Professional Practice II, 6 Credits.
• Health Information Management II: Data Analysis, 6 Credits.
• Introduction to Research I, 6 Credits.
• Nursing Theory and Practice II, 24 Credits.
• Clinical Nurse and Midwife Training II (WIL), 36 Credits.

Modules at NQF Level 7, 129 Credits

• Psycho-Social Science II, 12 Credits.
• Pharmacology in Nursing III: Midwifery and Specifics, 6 Credits.
• Education and Management in Nursing III, 12 Credits.
• Nursing Ethos and Professional Practice III, 9 Credits.
• Health Information Management III, 6 Credits.
• Research II: Research Methodology in Nursing, 6 Credits.
• Nursing Theory and Practice III, 24 Credits.
• Midwifery I, 18 Credits.
• Clinical Nurse and Midwife Training III, 36 Credits.

Modules at NQF Level 8, 131 Credits

• Pharmacology in Nursing IV: Dispensing, 12 Credits.
• Education and Management in Nursing IV, 6 Credits.
• Nursing Ethos and Professional Practice IV, 9 Credits.
• Health Information Management IV, 6 Credits.
• Midwifery II, 16 Credits.
• Research III: Research Project in Nursing, 26 Credits.
• Nursing Theory and Practice IV, 20 Credits.
• Clinical Nurse and Midwife Training IV, 36 Credits.

1. Identify and address ethical and legal issues based on critical reflection on the suitability of different moral value (and legal) systems to nursing and midwifery practice.
2. Apply knowledge of biological and natural sciences, psycho-social sciences and pharmacology in the provision of safe nursing and midwifery care, throughout the life span, in a variety of health care settings and communities in response to community needs.
3. Manage a health care unit and a health facility based on the understanding of the roles and relationships within the multidisciplinary team.
4. Access, produce and manage information effectively to a range of audiences, including health information systems.
5. Conduct research in investigating nursing and health-related problems to improve the quality of care that is responsive to the needs of the individual, the family and the community, following the national legislative and policy frameworks.
6. Apply learning strategies effectively to address their own and other's professional and personal ongoing learning needs in a self-critical manner.
7. Apply knowledge of theories, methods and techniques in the practice of safe clinical nursing.
8. Maintain optimal health of a woman, her family and baby, post-partum, postpartum and intrapartum.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1

• Create advocacy activities to promote individual, group and community rights concerning law and health care provision.
• Apply the practice consistently in a manner that reflects a clear understanding and interpretation of the requirements of South Africa (SA) Nursing and Health Care legislation, including a Primary Health Care approach.
• Interpret and apply ethical codes, professional accountability and responsibility, and standards for the practice of nursing and midwifery in line with their intent.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 2

• Apply knowledge of psychology and sociology in ways which benefit the level and quality of health care delivery to patients.
• Demonstrate understanding of bio-natural sciences meets requirements for professional health care and promote practical Nursing and Midwifery.
• Utilise nursing interventions based on individualised plans that reflect the comprehensive and integrated assessment of mentally ill persons, and understanding of common emotional and behavioural disorders, as well as major psychiatric disorders (perceptual and severe mood disorders).
• Utilise consistent interventions with mentally-ill persons with generally accepted psycho-social techniques and contribute to the therapeutic management of these patients.
• Provide support to patients recovering from illness preparing for discharge in ways to enable the patient, family and significant others to cope with the management of the patient at home.
• Assist clients with indicators of relapse or complications and ways of preventing such.
• Use the diagnosis and treatment of illnesses and conditions in the practice of Nursing and Midwifery by the use of technology.
• Initiate treatment to manage common ailments (including prescribing and dispensing medication) following relevant legislation and protocols.
• Manage pharmacological preparations and therapy.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level 3

• Plan and provision for health care based on sound assessment and informed decision making. Program is inclusive of the patient and other key stakeholders.
• Develop unit philosophy, vision, mission, goals, policy and procedures for nursing and midwifery care provision and personnel management within a health care unit comply with current legislation, SANC requirements and international best practice for the profession.
• Establish systems that promote cost-effective and efficient service delivery within a health care unit.
• Direct management and leadership activities towards the establishment of a team approach to health care and implement the effective delivery of services within a physically safe and emotionally supportive environment.
• Manage pharmacological preparations and treatment in ways that ensure the correct storage of drugs and the proper development and administration of pharmacological treatment.
• Apply management processes strategically and systematically to manage resources effectively within a health care unit.
• Implement and monitor quality management systems effectively.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 4

• Prepare accurate and consistent organisation presentation and communication of professional information with professional expectations.
• Promote community involvement in health care through information sharing and contact, which promotes ongoing collaboration with the community or group.
• Document assessment, planning, implementation and evaluation accurately and timeously.
• Regular monitoring of standards set for the unit health care delivery and information gathered identifies areas for improvement on an ongoing basis.
• Communicate effectively using a variety of media and technology, including computers.
• Use interpersonal skills effectively to establish supportive and therapeutic relationships.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level 5

• Research limited scope based on identified needs and takes into consideration the steps of the research process, as per standard research text.
• Conduct research based on ethically sound research principles and methods.
• Develop strategies and programmes appropriate to the findings of comprehensive health assessments and based on sound epidemiological principles.
• Provide care based on scientific evidence.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 6

• Maintain own personal development and management emotional balance and promotes effective and professional service delivery of self and the health care unit as a whole.
• Engage in professional development activities contributes significantly to the professional growth of nurses in a sphere of influence and the standing of the nursing profession.
• Develop research activities for their professional knowledge and expertise and contribute to the development of nursing practice and the profession as a whole.
• Direct learning activities towards positive health outcomes and use relevant teaching strategies.
• Direct mentoring activities towards the development of others, according to their needs and their scope of practice.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 7

• Provide health care that is appropriate to the particular context and based on comprehensive health assessment.
• Implement nursing care in an integrated manner, according to plans. Health care status of individuals, groups and communities identifies changes in general status in time to implement preventive or corrective measures in the interests of general wellbeing.
• Diagnose and manage conditions according to generally accepted treatment guidelines.
• Deliver nursing care that provides the necessary physical and psychological care and support for the long term and terminally ill patients in line with the approved scope of practice for nursing.
• Contribute to the identification and management of conditions, maintenance of homeostasis, the comfort of the patient and significant others, and the prevention and control of complications.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 8

• Facilitate the preparation of a woman and family for pregnancy, childbirth and family changes is appropriate, taking into consideration the woman's context/background and is facilitated using antenatal classes and proper health education.
• Conduct obstetric history-taking and physical examination of the mother comprehensively, using a variety of available technology.
• Interpret observations of significant changes and laboratory results and refer appropriately where a potential risk to mother and foetus exists.
• Monitor the wellbeing of the foetus is ensured by following the foetal movement, heart rates and growth.
• Control and manage the mother during labour and to ensure that delivery is comprehensive, evidence understanding of the physiology of labour, the technology used to monitor the mother and wellbeing of the foetus.
• Demonstrate an understanding of changes taking place in a newborn baby.
• Identify timeously potential and actual emergencies of the mother and foetus and accurately managed and referred.
• Intra-labour care delivered to the mother and baby complies with generally accepted treatment guidelines, manages potential and actual emergencies and promotes the safety of both.
• Integrate and provides care delivered postnatal for the long-term wellbeing of mother and child, in line with the accepted scope of practice for midwives.

Integrated assessment

The institution utilises the South African Nursing Council regulations as minimum requirements for competence for purposes of registration for practice. The combined evaluation incorporates both formal and informal continuous assessment strategies into the qualification to ensure that not only assessment of learning takes place but also assessment for learning. The Exit Level Outcomes designed in articulation with the level descriptors and the scope of practice underpins the strategies of the evaluation.

Formative Assessment

• Assignments.
• Demonstrations.
• Practical work.
• Projects.
• Tests.

Summative assessments

• Examinations.
• Portfolios.
• Presentations.
• Tests.