Higher Certificate in Nursing

Purpose

The primary purpose of the Higher Certificate in Nursing is to produce a competent nurse who will provide nursing care in all spheres of health care service delivery. The qualification will produce a nurse with a wide range of cognitive, affective and psychomotor skills. It is the primary purpose of the qualification to produce a nurse who can provide quality health care services independently in a variety of health care settings within the relevant legal and ethical parameters. The qualification aims at enabling the nurses to sharpen the skills in assessment, planning and implementation of nursing care. The nurses will be able to communicate effectively in a variety of ways in a nursing context. The qualification also aims at producing nurses who will be able to interact sensitively and professionally with people from diverse backgrounds.

Rationale

The qualification is responding to the re-engineering of primary health-care approach as well as the skills shortage to facilitate National Health Insurance (NHI) in the delivery of health care services to the rural health settings. Nurse practitioners are more competent than Community health workers, and will, therefore, be able to respond to some of the development needs of the community. The development of this qualification followed the pronouncement by the South African Nursing Council that from 2020, South Africa will be offering new qualifications.

The first professional category in Nursing is the need to have nurses to perform primary nursing care for the patients at the clinics as well as the hospitals. The Higher Certificate in Nursing will enable these nurses to perform these duties.

The institution submitted the curriculum of the qualification to the South African Nursing Council for assessment and approval. The South African Nursing Council evaluated the qualification and also sent back the evaluated curriculum with comments for corrections. The department of Advanced Nursing Science worked on the curriculum. The learners from this qualification will articulate to a Diploma in Nursing Science which is over three years, and the learner qualifies as a professional nurse (general nurse only). This learner can also articulate to a Degree in Nursing which is over four years. Upon completion, the learner qualifies as a professional nurse with general and midwifery qualifications.

The society will benefit from the learner as the learner will render quality basic nursing, prevent medico-legal hazards. Upon completion of the qualification, employment of the learner will lead to the contribution to the economy of the country.

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)

The achievement of the qualification in part is possible through recognition of relevant prior learning and prior experience as a community health worker. The necessary evidence, as required by the Exit Level Outcomes and presented by the learner, must meet the following principles:

• The currency of evidence.
• Sufficiency of the evidence.
• The validity of evidence and authenticity of the evidence.

RPL will be in accordance with the policies and procedures of this institution.

Entry Requirements

The minimum entry requirement for this qualification is

• National Senior Certificate, NQF Level 4, granting access to Higher Certificate studies.
• Senior Certificate without endorsement.

1. Apply knowledge of anatomy, physiology, biophysics, pharmacology and microbiology in the provision of nursing care.
2. Communicate effectively in a variety of ways in a nursing context.
3. Use the scientific nursing approach to address the basic needs of individuals and groups in a various health care setting.
4. Demonstrate appropriate methods of interacting sensitively and professionally with people from diverse backgrounds.
5. Maintain professionalism in nursing practice within the ethical and legal framework.
6. Participate in addressing the needs of individuals and groups in a community.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1

• Demonstrate an understanding macro body structure and functioning by the nursing care provided, in accordance with the relevant scope of practice.
• Demonstrate an understanding of the structure and functioning of anatomy, physiology, biophysics.
• Demonstrate an understanding of pharmacology and microbiology in the provision of nursing care.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 2

• Maintain oral and written communication to promote effective fundamental nursing care.
• Ensure written communication is clear, relevant and unambiguous.
• Ensure non-verbal communication is congruent with oral communication.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 3

• Implement and evaluate individual and/or group health care plans across the health illness continuum in collaboration with other members of the health care team.
• Obtain information from continuous monitoring of responses to nursing interventions are correctly applied to the individual or group.
• Apply appropriate emergency care and first aid principles in respect of:

> Treatment of injuries and accidents.

> Basic life support is applied.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 4

• Implement nursing interventions with sensitivity to people of diverse backgrounds.
• Provide nursing care as prescribed or directed by a professional nurse or staff nurse.
• Provide nursing care in accordance with a standardised plan of care.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 5

• Record data in compliance with legal criteria.
• Maintain patient records accurately, concisely and systematically, to reflect the basic nursing care rendered.
• Maintain confidentiality and integrity of patient information in interaction with patients and others.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 6

• Implement health promotion programmes.
• Display adherence to professional code of conduct in provision of nursing care.
• Render basic first aid.

Integrated Assessment

For each module, learners will be expected to submit one written assignment, write one test, give oral presentation and write an examination at the end of semester. For each formative task given, a learner will receive written and oral individual and group feedback.