Bachelor of Nursing

Purpose

The Bachelor of Nursing aims to produce professional learners competent in the knowledge and skills required for managing and providing an integrated, holistic, scientifically-based nursing and midwifery health care service to all sectors of society. The aim is to develop reflective, caring practitioners capable of integrating principles, theory, proven techniques and relevant clinical skills in the delivery of a service, focusing on the promotion of health, prevention, diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation of nursing and midwifery related problems.

Rationale

The South African Nursing Council (SANC), the regulatory body for nursing and midwifery in South Africa, has regulated a four-year Bachelor in Nursing Degree, which leads to registration as a professional nurse and midwife. The rationale for this change of regulation, as stated by SANC, is that the learner will be prepared comprehensively and appropriately according to the health needs of the country. This qualification will be different from the former qualification in that learners will only be qualified as a professional nurse and midwife instead of as a professional and community health and psychiatric nurse and midwife.

The qualification , therefore, aims to provide specialist skills related to midwifery in addition to those of a registered nurse to provide person-centred, evidence-based high quality, focused toward improving client outcomes. It equips learners with skills related to nursing and midwifery, which also consist of practice.

South Africa is a member of the African Union (AU); Southern African Development Community (SADC) and active member of the International Council for Nursing (ICN). The institution is also a member of the U21 Health Sciences group with members globally. Most of the member countries of these organisations recognise the qualification. The first world countries like the United Kingdom (UK); Canada; Holland; United Arab Emirates; New Zealand and Australia are eager to employ Nurses from South Africa.

On completion of this qualification, learners will be able to register with SANC as a professional nurse and midwife, entitling them to practise independently and within a multidisciplinary team in the private or public health sector or the education or research sector.

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)

The institution accepts Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) as an integral part of education and academic practice. The institution will endeavour to assess prior learning and award credit where relevant.

The Faculty of Health Science manages RPL according to the institution's RPL policy, which will be applied as follows for purposes of this qualification as set out in the Faculty of Science policy.

Through RPL, a learner may gain access, or recognition of status, on condition that he/she continues his/her studies.

RPL in the case of a learner not complying with the formal entry requirements

• Is based on other forms of formal, informal and non-formal learning and experience;
• Is considered only where prior knowledge corresponds to the required NQF-level;
• Takes place where prior learning in terms of applied competencies is relevant to the content and outcomes of the qualification;
• Is considered in terms of an assessment procedure that includes a motivated recommendation by an assessment panel to the Dean's Committee of the Faculty of Sciences and is finally decided upon by the Faculty of Health Science Dean's Committee.

Entry Requirements

The minimum entry requirement for this qualification is

• National Senior Certificate, NQF Level 4, granting access to Bachelor's studies.

Or

• Senior Certificate, NQF Level 4, with endorsement.

This qualification consists of the following compulsory modules at National Qualifications Framework Levels 5, 6, 7 and 8 totalling 520 Credits.

Compulsory Modules, Level 5, 112 Credits

• Fundamental Nursing Science 1A, 16 Credits.
• Fundamental Nursing Science Clinical Practice I, 16 Credits.
• Pharmacology I, 8 Credits.
• Anatomy, 16 Credits.
• Physiology, 16 Credits.
• Psychology 1, 12 Credits.
• Sociology 1, 12 Credits.
• Mental Health Nursing Science 1, 8 Credits.
• Mental Health Nursing Science Clinical Practice I, 8 Credits.

Compulsory Modules, Level 6,104 Credits

• Fundamental Nursing Science 1B, 16 Credits.
• Fundamental Nursing Science Clinical Practice I, 16 Credits.
• General Nursing Science I A, 20 Credits.
• General Nursing Science Clinical Practice I, 20 Credits.
• Psychology II, 8 Credits.
• Sociology II, 8 Credits.
• Physiology 11, 16 Credits.

Compulsory Modules, Level 7, 120 Credits

• General Nursing Science I B, 20 Credits.
• General Nursing Science Clinical Practice I, 20 Credits.
• Midwifery Nursing Science IA, 16 Credits.
• Midwifery Nursing Science IB, 16 Credits.
• Midwifery Nursing Science Clinical Practice I, 32 Credits.
• Research Methodology, 16 Credits.

Compulsory Modules, Level 8,184 Credits

• General Nursing Science IIA, 14 Credits.
• General Nursing Science IIB, 14 Credits.
• General Nursing Science Clinical Practice III, 28 Credits.
• General Nursing Science IIIA, 12 Credits.
• General Nursing Science IIIB, 12 Credits.
• General Nursing Science Clinical Practice III, 24 Credits.
• Midwifery Nursing Science IIA, 16 Credits.
• Midwifery Nursing Science IIB, 16 Credits.
• Midwifery Nursing Science Clinical Practice II, 32 Credits.
• Research Project, 16 Credits.

1. Identify and address ethical and legal issues based on critical reflection on the suitability of different moral value (and legal) systems to the nursing and midwifery.
2. Apply knowledge of biological and natural sciences, psycho-social sciences and pharmacology in the provision of safe nursing care throughout the life span, in a variety of health care settings and communities in response to population needs.
3. Effectively manage the health care unit and health facility with the understanding of the roles and relationships within the multidisciplinary team.
4. Access, produce and manage information effectively to a range of audiences.
5. Utilise research in investigating nursing, midwifery and health-related problems.
6. Apply learning strategies effectively to address 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 and midwifery that is responsive to the needs of the individual, the family and the community, per national legislative and policy frameworks.
8. Provide safe and quality midwifery and neonatal care in a specific, integrated, evidence-based approach in all health care settings.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1

• Identify and address the ethical issues based on critical reflection on the suitability of different moral value systems to the nursing practice.
• Identify and address the ethical and legal issues based on critical reflection on the suitability of different moral value systems to the midwifery practice in line with the nursing profession.
• Address and identify the legal issues based on critical reflection on the suitability of different legal systems to the nursing and midwifery practices.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 2

• Apply biological and natural sciences, psycho-social sciences and pharmacology in the provision of safe nursing care throughout the life span.
• Apply biological, and natural sciences, psycho-social sciences and pharmacology in the provision of safe nursing care in a variety of health care settings.
• Apply per and biological sciences, psycho-social sciences and pharmacology in the provision of safe nursing care in communities in response to the population needs.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 3

• Manage the health care unit with the understanding of the roles and relationships within the multidisciplinary team.
• Manage the health facility as a whole with the understanding of the roles and relationships within the multidisciplinary team.
• Manage the cross-cultural environment within the health care unit and health facility with the understanding of the roles and relationships within the multidisciplinary team.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 4

• Access, produce and manage information effectively to a range of audiences.
• Access and produce information having is effectively communicated as required.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 5

• Use research in investigating nursing, midwifery and health-related problems.
• Manage the utilisation of the research in health-related problems ethically.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 6

• Apply learning strategies to address the learner's own professional and personal ongoing learning needs in a self-critical manner.
• Learning strategies to address other professionals' learning needs are applied in a self-critical manner.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 7

• Apply theories, methods and techniques in the practice of safe clinical nursing, in response to the needs of the individual, the family and the community as per national legislative and policy frameworks.
• Apply theories, methods and techniques in the practice of safe clinical midwifery, in response to the needs of the individual, the family and the community per national legislative and policy frameworks.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 8

• Provide safe and quality midwifery care using the correct evidence-based approach as it applies to all health care settings.
• Provide safe and quality neonatal care using the right evidence-based approach as it applies to all health care settings.

Integrated Assessment

Integrated assessment strategies across related modules are applied and assessed in the classroom, practical venues and in the authentic environment. The integrated assessment takes the form of an appropriate variety of assessment methods, for example: written and oral examinations, problem-solving assignments, project presentations, case studies, portfolios, logbooks, clinical scanning assessments and objectively structured clinical examination, reflective practice journals. Through the institution's policies on assessment and moderation, assessment practices will be open, transparent, fair, valid, and reliable to ensure that no student is disadvantaged in any way whatsoever.

Formative Assessment: There is an integration of learning and assessment. The scheme of work includes tests and assignments, practical work and competency evaluation of practical skills. The process is continuous and focuses on smaller sections of the work in a limited number of outcomes.

Summative Assessment: Summative assessments evaluate the learner's abilities to manage and integrate a larger body of knowledge and to achieve the stated outcomes. The summative assessment also focuses on the learner's ability to integrate knowledge and skills in the area of ultrasound in obstetrics and gynaecology. Summative assessments include theory and practical assessments.