Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing

Purpose

The purpose of this qualification is to equip learners with the necessary skills, competencies, values and attitudes in conducting research in a specialist nursing field, to make a unique contribution towards the scientific body of knowledge in clinical nursing, nursing education and/or nursing management.

Learners who graduate with the Doctorate in Nursing will be able to use a wide range of specialised skills in identifying, conceptualising, designing and implementing research findings that address complex and challenging problems in specialist fields of nursing. Learners will develop intellectual capital in terms of personal growth, developing insight and foresight, workplace application, multi-cultural interaction, entrepreneurial thinking, emotional maturity, ethical rigour and applying leadership competencies in workplace and societal situations.

In essence, the purpose of this qualification is to equip graduates with the necessary critical insight, maturity of judgement and experience to undertake independent and original research in specialised fields of nursing and to broaden and deepen the generation of new knowledge or insight and the exploration of uncharted territories. The purpose of this qualification is also to enable the qualifying learners, as members of the international community of scholars, to participate in and contribute to the universal pursuit of knowledge in public health and by so doing advance the frontiers of public health through original contributions to the knowledge field of nursing specialities.

Rationale

Nursing forms, the backbone of health care in South Africa. The health care system in the country is nurse-based to provide access to most of the population, especially at primary health care level. Nurses will play a pivotal role in the realisation of the envisaged new National Health Insurance approach to health where the aim is to provide universal access to health care.

Specialist nurses, skilled at doctoral level, will be ideally suitable to take leadership and research roles in the provision of health care in South Africa.

This qualification is strongly aligned with the vision and mission of University of South Africa (UNISA) which is inherently focusing on facilitating the graduation of learners who, through the innovative application of evidence-based scientific principles can contribute effectively towards the improvement of the quality of life of people in Africa and, therefore, be responsive to being "in the service of humanity".

Learners targeted will typically be involved and employed in the field of specialist clinical nursing (such as medical-surgical nursing specialising in: critical care, operating theatre, orthopedic, forensic paediatric nursing sciences, community health nursing science, nursing education and nursing management. The learners will, therefore, have a grounded understanding of health challenges facing society at municipal, local, provincial and national level including private health care providers.

The primary rationale for this qualification is to develop a cadre of nurse researchers who will be able to conduct empirical research to improve health care and address nursing and health-related issues, focusing strategically on promotive, preventive and developmental systems level.

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)

• Admission may be granted through RPL to learners who do not meet the minimum entry requirements.
• All admissions through RPL must be in accordance with the principles laid down in the Unisa RPL Policy.

This qualification can be achieved wholly or in part through Recognition of Prior Learning.

The Unisa RPL office can supply full details of processes relating to the assessment and accreditation of learning from prior experiences. Evidence can be presented in a variety of forms, including international or previous local qualifications, reports, testimonials mentioning functions performed, work records, portfolios, videos of practice and performance records.

All such evidence should be judged according to the general principle of assessment described in the notes to assessors.

Entry Requirements

• A Master's Degree in a specialist clinical nursing field, community nursing science, nursing education, or nursing management at National Qualifications Framework (NQF) Level 9 with an average of 60% or higher.
• Have at least three years' appropriate experience.

The Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing consists of two compulsory modules at National Qualifications Framework (NQF) Level 10 totalling 360 Credits.

Modules

• Research Proposal, 0 Credits.
• Research Project and Thesis, 360 Credits.

Learners completing this qualification are expected to demonstrate

• Coherent and critical understanding of relevant theories in clinical nursing or nursing education or nursing management.
• The ability to rigorously critique and evaluate current research in specialist fields of nursing health.
• The ability to identify, analyse and contextualise local, national and global nursing and health related problems.
• Advanced skill in information retrieval and processing.
• The ability to rigorously participate in scholarly debates in the area of specialised nursing health.
• Mastery in undertaking a research project and applying relevant research methods and techniques in an independent and innovative manner.
• The ability to produce a research report which meets the standards of professional writing.
• Capacity for continual critical self-evaluation.
• Capacity for continuing professional learning.
• Capacity to manage complex tasks autonomously, professionally and ethically.

Assessment Criteria

The learner will be declared competent when the thesis meets the following criteria

• Reports comprehensively on original research.
• Is structured and written academically.
• Citations are accurate and formatted appropriately.
• Shows evidence that the research was conducted ethically.
• Includes analyses and discourses of current debates, paradigms, models and theories pertaining to the problem that was researched in specialised fields of nursing.
• Meets all the standards and requirements of a Doctoral thesis - which includes proof of successful integration of all the elements required to substantiate the central thesis and contributions of the study.

Integrated Assessment

All assessments are conducted in line with the principles of assessment as defined in the University of South Africa (UNISA) Assessment Policy.

Submitted proposals are assessed and approved by the supervisor and Departmental Research and Higher Degrees Committee to be ratified by the College Research and Higher Degrees Committee.

When a learner's thesis is nearing completion, he/she informs the Registrar of his/her intention to submit if for examination at least two months before the anticipated date. After consultation with the co-supervisor (where applicable), the supervisor gives the learner permission to submit.

Assessment will include input from three external examiners, and all must be recognised experts in their fields and must not be attached to or affiliated with UNISA. At least one of the external examiners should be from a county other than South Africa. All examiners are recommended by the Department Chairperson and/or Departmental Research and Higher Degrees Committee and their names are forwarded for appointment by the College Management Committee.

The completed report of the panel of examiners is regarded as the examiners' final recommendation. The result of the doctoral thesis is based on a judicious appraisal of the examiners' reports.

After the result of the learner's thesis has been approved, the non-examining chairperson makes the examiners' report available to the Chairperson of the Department, the supervisor, the co-supervisor, the learner and the other examiners if requested.

In addition, learners must demonstrate the ability to engage in the field of Nursing in an integrative way, dealing with Information Science challenges strategically and effectively. It is recommended for this ability to be demonstrated by the publication of at least one article based on the research, in a scientific peer reviewed journal.