Diploma in Nursing

Purpose

This qualification will enable the learner to function as a clinically focused, service oriented, independent Registered Staff Nurse, who is able to render nursing care determined by the appropriate legislative framework.

The qualification provides a basis for decision-making about what is within and beyond the defined scope of the practice, as well as understanding of the referral system in place for anything outside of the scope of practice. The qualified learner will apply evidence-based nursing practice which is based on research or established practice that have proven to be effective both national and internationally within the profession.

The qualification aims to

• Produce high quality learners who are able to be competent nursing practitioners in a rage of health service setting.
• Provide learners with a rage of skills, knowledge and attitudes that will enable them to make a meaningful and sustained contribution to health services.
• Equip learners with a developed sense of equity, justice and service ethics that will ensure that they work in an accountable manner, irrespective of their chosen work place.
• Offer a wide range of transferable skills for application in other professions, disciplines and general life. These include:

> A methodical, solution-based approach to problem solving.

> An empowerment strength-based approach to personal development.

> Capability to assess and implement and health and other policies.

> The ability to work independently and as part of team.

Rationale

This qualification will prepare the qualifying learner as a Generalist Nurse who will be able to meet the service delivery needs of the country. This qualification will make a significant contribution to the current situation of the human resources in health in South Africa, taking into consideration the country's historical background and the shortage of Professional Nurses and Doctors in the country. The practice of this nurse is focused on quality service delivery within a broad spectrum of health service and in a variety of settings, including rural areas.

On successful completion of the qualification, the learner is eligible for registration with the South African Nursing Council as a staff Nurse.

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)

An application must be submitted according to the Recognition of Prior Learning Policy of the Nursing Education institution for individual assessment for Recognition of Prior Learning process for access to this qualification or credit bearing exemption.

Entry Requirements

The minimum requirements for admission into the Diploma are

• National Senior Certificate.

Or

• Level 3 or Level 4 qualification.

Or

• Higher Certificate: Nursing Auxiliary.

This qualification comprises compulsory modules at year 1 to year 3 totalling 360 Credits.

Compulsory Modules, 120 Credits

Year 1

• Bio Medical Sciences, 8 Credits.
• Psycho-Social Sciences, 4 Credits.
• Pharmacology, 4 Credits.
• Basic Nursing, 56 Credits.
• Professionalism, Ethics and Legislation, 20 Credits.
• Health Informatics, 8 Credits.
• Reproductive Health, 20 Credits.

Compulsory Modules, 120 Credits

Year 2

• Bio Medical Sciences, 8 Credits.
• Psycho-Social Sciences, 4 Credits.
• Pharmacology, 4 Credits.
• Basic Nursing, 56 Credits.
• Professionalism, Ethics and Legislation, 6 Credits.
• Management and Leadership, 12 Credits.
• Reproductive Health, 30 Credits.

Compulsory Modules, 120 Credits

Year 3

• Basic Nursing, 40 Credits.
• Ethics and Legislation, 8 Credits.
• Health Information systems, 6 Credits.
• Management and Leadership, 43 Credits.
• Reproductive Health, 23 Credits.

1. Provide nursing care throughout the lifespan in various healthcare settings.
2. Render nursing care within a legal and ethical framework.
3. Apply knowledge of natural and biological sciences in the practice of nursing.
4. Apply knowledge of psycho-social sciences in the practice of nursing.
5. Apply knowledge of pharmacology in nursing practice.
6. Use and maintain healthcare information systems for nursing practice.
7. Manage a healthcare unit by implementing the management process.
8. Provide reproductive health care to promote and maintain optimum health of individuals and families.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1

• Provide preventive, promotive, curative and rehabilitative nursing care to different age groups in various health care settings.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 2

• Render nursing care within an ethical legal framework.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 3

• Apply knowledge of anatomy and physiology in caring for the health care user.
• Apply knowledge of microbiology in caring for the health care user.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 4

• Apply knowledge of psychology and sociology in ways which benefits the quality of healthcare delivered to health care users.
• Understand and apply knowledge of human behaviour and psychological development throughout the life span.
• Implement social and diversity-sensitive care in nursing practice.
• Identify and manage a range of psychological emergency situations accordingly.
• Deal with emotional demands of nursing practice effectively.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 5

• Apply knowledge of pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics in nursing practice within the applicable scope of practice.
• Prescribe, control, dispense and administer medications in various healthcare settings within legislative requirements.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 6

• Use and maintain healthcare information systems in the practice of nursing.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 7

• Implement the management process in managing a health care unit.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 8

• Promote and maintain the optimum health of individuals and families through the provision of reproductive health care.

Integrated Assessment

The institution's assessment has a correlation of theory and practice. It is the policy of the school that learners commence their training in the lecture room and not in the clinical area to allow for gradual blending into the nursing procedures and the nursing at this is aimed at introducing psychomotor as introduction as well as cognitive skills in a controlled atmosphere of the lecture room.

Whilst in the lecture room nurse educators will introduce learners to practical lessons by first teaching theory related to the procedure and then progressing to the clinical laboratory for the purpose of demonstration whilst learners observe. The learners are expected to be in smaller groups to demonstrate back to the nurse educators in the clinical laboratory.

Learners are encouraged to practice during their own time and all this takes place in a well resourced clinical laboratory, where equipment in a simulated area resembles a hospital ward setting.

Before learners are allocated in the clinical area they undergo an orientation type of practical assessment which serves to identify, and correct problems related to correlation of theory and practical.

The whole process then is continued in the practical area where clinical facilitators will teach, demonstrate and assess and nurse educators will accompany learners establishing the proper "mix" between theory and practical and this is followed by assessments which are continuous until final evaluation at the end of training.

The school holds monthly clinical meetings with clinical facilitators and nurse educators where progress of learners is discussed, and problems identified.