Diploma in Nursing

Purpose

The Diploma in Nursing will provide a basis for decision-making about what is within and beyond the defined scope of practice, as well as an understanding of the referral system in place for anything outside the scope of practice. The general nurse will apply evidence-based nursing practice based on research or established practices that have proven to be useful both nationally and internationally within the profession.

The qualification aims to

• Produce high quality registered general nurse who is a competent nursing practitioners in PHC facilities and Community settings;
• Provide registered general nurses with a range 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 workplace;

And

• Offer a wide range of transferable skills for application in other professions, disciplines and registered general life. These include:

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

> An empowerment strengths-based approach to personal development.

> Competence in written and oral communication.

> Capacity to assess and implement health and other policies.

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

> Ability to work independently and as part of a team.

Rationale

Human resources requirements for the Primary Healthcare Re-Engineering is approximately 15000 general nurses (Health 2012). Institutions need to train as many as possible to meet the national human resource requirements. The general nurse will have broad knowledge and skills about nursing, antenatal, postnatal care and emergency births and will develop competence through work-integrated learning. The general nurse will practice as a member of the PHC outreach teams at both facility and community-based settings.

The general nurse will manage Community Health Workers (CHW) teams. The general nurse will

• Preventive and promotive services, and
• Curative and rehabilitative services.

Furthermore, the general nurse will function independently in community-based settings and be in charge of low-risk wards without complicated cases.

The Diploma in Nursing will enable the registered general nurse to function as a clinically focused, service-oriented, independent practitioner. They will render primary nursing care as determined by the appropriate legislative framework.

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

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)

The learners may utilise the institutions' RPL Policy to recognise prior learning for access to the qualification.

RPL for Fundamental module credits

The institution awards credits on the following conditions

• Theory credits: subjects in previous health courses/qualification/s that are similar to the module/s of the R171 qualification the learner applied. Theory learning outcomes of the subject was identical to the theoretical learning outcomes of the module of the R171 qualification.
• Work-integrated credits: clinical experiences in clinical facilities or health-related facilities that relate to the clinical learning outcomes of the WIL.

Entry Requirements

The minimum entry requirement for this qualification is

• National Senior Certificate, NQF Level 4, granting access to Diploma studies.

Or

• Senior Certificate without endorsement.

This qualification consists of the following compulsory modules at National Qualifications Framework Levels 5 and 6 totalling 360 Credits.

Compulsory Modules, NQF Level 5, 120 Credits

• Promoting health in the South African Context, 14 Credits.
• Managing Basic Health Information Systems, 10 Credits.
• Providing Basic Nursing Care, 24 Credits.
• Basic Anatomy, Physiology and Microbiology, 8 Credits.
• Applying Psycho-Social Health in Basic Nursing Practice, 4 Credits.
• Integrating ethical and legal frameworks to basic nursing practice, 16 Credits.
• Providing HIV and AIDS Primary Care, 10 Credits.
• Providing Basic Nursing Care, 24 Credits.
• Applying Psycho-Social Health in Basic Nursing Practice, 6 Credits.
• Biophysics and Biochemistry, 4 Credits.

Compulsory Modules, NQF Level 6, 240 Credits

• Applying Pharmacology in Nursing Practice, 4 Credits.
• Integrated Anatomy and Physiology in Nursing Practice, 6 Credits.
• Providing evidence-based community-oriented PHC, 24 Credits.
• Managing (Adult) Communicable Diseases, 22 Credits.
• Adult non-communicable diseases nursing, 24 Credits.
• Managing Child Communicable and Non-communicable Diseases, 24 Credits.
• Providing school health Services, 16 Credits.
• Managing reproductive health, 24 Credits.
• Managing and Leading a health unit, 16 Credits.
• Managing HIV and AIDS and TB, 24 Credits.
• Managing and Leading a health unit, 16 Credits.
• Integrating National Health Priorities in Nursing Practice, 24 Credits.
• Introduction to Midwifery, 16 Credits.

1. Apply knowledge of natural and biological sciences in the practice of nursing.
2. Apply knowledge of psychosocial sciences in the practice of nursing.
3. Apply knowledge of pharmacology in nursing practice.
4. Provide nursing care throughout the lifespan in various healthcare settings.
5. Render nursing care within a legal and ethical framework.
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

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

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 2

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

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 3

• 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 4

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

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 5

• Render nursing care within an ethical, legal framework.

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 uses a holistic approach to assessing the achievement of learning outcomes. The assessment includes assessing several learning outcomes together, using a range of assessments methods and evidence. The alignment of the methods of assessments include projects and assessment tasks with expected learning outcomes and learning activities. Examples are an immersive simulation, proficiency tests, clinical case management, integrated practicum examination, assignments and reports.

Formative assessments both theoretical and clinical, are used to integrate theory and work-integrated learning. Theoretical assessments comprise written tests, assignments, group work or projects. Clinical assessments are competency-based assessments used in real life or simulation in the form of assignments and projects.

Final summative assessments will take place at the end of each semester in the form of both theory and clinical. Module descriptors provide the basis to determine the nature of summative assessments. Also indicate whether a summative assessment is theoretical, clinical or both.