Higher Certificate in Nursing

Purpose

The purpose of the Higher Certificate in Nursing is to equip the learners with the foundational knowledge and practical skills necessary to provide competent basic nursing care in various healthcare settings. This qualification is an entry level into nursing. The qualification will enable learners to function as service-oriented, clinically focussed Registered Nurses who render health care services within the parameters of appropriate legislative framework, within the clearly defined scope of practice and referral system for matters beyond the scope of practice. The qualification serves to provide learners with knowledge, affective, cognitive and conceptual tools and practical techniques for additional studies in nursing. This qualification on completion will lead to registration with the South African Nursing Council as a Registered Nurse.

The qualification focuses, among others, on the disease profile of the nation. The programme prepares graduates holistically, ie, responsible, accountable, critical thinkers who are adaptable, self-aware and capable of effectively functioning in the health sector locally, nationally and internationally. The qualification aims to develop these attributes by raising learners' awareness and a critical understanding of socio-cultural, economic and political determinants of health and illness and health service delivery in the country.

The Qualification aims to

• Produce knowledgeable, skilled graduates who will contribute meaningfully to various health care services.
• Produce well-trained competent nurse practitioners of high quality for various health service delivery settings.
• Equip candidates with a sense of equity, justice, and service ethics for accountable practice.
• Offer transferable skills for various professions, disciplines, and general life, including:
• A methodical, 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.
• Learners completing this qualification will be able to:
• Apply basic knowledge of anatomy, physiology, biophysics, pharmacology, and microbiology in nursing care.
• Communicate effectively in various nursing contexts.
• Assess, plan, implement, and evaluate nursing care for individuals and groups with stable, uncomplicated health problems.
• Communicate and interact sensitively and professionally with people from diverse backgrounds.
• Maintain professionalism within ethical and legal frameworks.
• Participate in addressing community needs of individuals and groups.

Rationale

This qualification serves to provide an entry-level qualification to the profession of nursing. The rationale is to provide nurses to provide nursing care in a variety of health care settings within the relevant legal and ethical framework or parameters.

The nursing profession is re-examining the impact of changing health systems in South Africa and its impact on nursing. The disease profile has changed, and the profession is challenged with the burden of disease and increasing attrition in skilled and experienced health care professionals. Therefore, there is a need to focus on planning for the future supply of nurses and anticipate future shortages. Due to the pivotal position of nurses in the healthcare industry, there is a need to ensure that there are enough nurses to meet future healthcare demands.

The nursing qualifications have been aligned with the best in the world, and although the first level health care workers are not recognised internationally, South Africa must cater for its own health care needs. This Higher Certificate in Nursing may alleviate the burden in health care settings and ensure that Health Care Settings have the resources to provide basic nursing care. This nursing programme allows for a category of nurses that have the knowledge and skills to provide basic nursing care in a variety of health care settings.

The rationale for this qualification is driven by the Strategic Plan for Nurse Education, Training and Practice 2012/13 - 2016/17, emphasizing the development of a model for the future supply of nurses, including the new auxiliary nurse category. It aligns with the Primary Healthcare (PHC) re-engineering outlined in healthcare 2030, where Nurses will be part of community outreach teams. These nurses will play a pivotal role in the implementation of the National Health Insurance (NHI) plan and the re-engineering of Primary Healthcare Services.

These nurses will significantly contribute to addressing South Africa's quadruple burden of disease and meeting community healthcare needs amid shortages of skilled professionals. The qualification equips them with the necessary knowledge, skills, and attitudes to practice within their professional, ethical, and legal frameworks. It also contributes to meeting the Sustainable Development Goals. The qualification will produce competent nursing practitioners who can function accountably as part of a team, applying evidence-based nursing practice in various settings. It is essential to have Registered Nurses with a broader education and training in the primary healthcare approach. The qualification provides learners with fundamental principles, concepts, disciplinary knowledge, and practice-based skills to provide basic nursing care within relevant legal and ethical parameters. It also focuses on content and curriculum studies to ensure quality nursing care in the psychosocial context.

A thorough review of the NQF database has confirmed that there is no existing qualification with the exact scope and focus of this Higher Certificate in Nursing, specifically designed to address the foundational nursing needs within the South African healthcare context.

This qualification addresses elementary nursing care to the broader population of South Africa, striving to prepare individuals to offer quality patient care using a scientific approach. This care is delivered at all life stages and in all healthcare settings. The qualification ensures learners attain a basic level of higher education knowledge and competence in nursing for safe professional practice. It provides learners with the basic knowledge, affective, cognitive, and conceptual tools, and practical techniques to meet the country's burden of disease and engage in further nursing studies. Graduates will be eligible to register with the SANC as Enrolled Nurses, responsible for their acts and omissions within their scope of practice, performing hospital, clinic, and community-based services.

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)

An application must be submitted according to the Recognition of Prior Learning Policy for individual assessment for Recognition of Prior Learning process for access to this qualification or credit-bearing exemption. Learners may provide evidence of prior learning for which they may receive credit towards the qualification by means of portfolios, other forms of appropriate evidence and/or challenge examinations, as agreed to, between the relevant provider and relevant quality council. Learners will receive a maximum of the prescribed percentage of the completed qualification, as determined in the policy of the institution and the relevant Quality Council.

RPL for access

• Learners who do not meet the minimum entrance requirements or the required qualification that is at the same NQF level as the qualification required for admission may be considered for admission through RPL.
• To be considered for admission in the qualification based on RPL, applicants should provide evidence in the form of a portfolio that demonstrates that they have acquired the relevant knowledge, skills, and competencies through formal, non-formal and/or informal learning to cope with the qualification expectations.
• Not more than 10% of a cohort of learners in a qualification should be admitted through an RPL process.

RPL for exemption of modules

• Learners may apply for RPL to be exempted from modules that form part of the qualification.
• For a learner to be exempted from a module, the learner needs to provide sufficient evidence in the form of a portfolio that demonstrates that competency was achieved for the learning outcomes that are equivalent to the learning outcomes of the module.

Entry Requirements

The minimum entry requirement for this qualification is

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

Or

• National Certificate (Vocational), NQF Level 4 granting access to Higher Certificate studies.

Or

• Senior Certificate, NQF Level 4 without endorsement.

This qualification consists of the following compulsory modules at National Qualifications Framework Level 5, totalling 120 credits.

Compulsory Modules, Level 5, 120 Credits

• Biological Science,16 Credits.
• Community Healthcare, 30 Credits.
• Basic Nursing Care, 40 Credits.
• First Aid, 10 Credits.
• Nursing Ethos and Professional Practice, 24 Credits.

1. Apply basic 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 various health care settings.
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

• Discuss macro body structure and functioning by the nursing care provided, in accordance with the relevant scope of practice.
• Describe the structure and functioning of anatomy, physiology, biophysics, pharmacology, and microbiology as demonstrated 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.
• Present a clear, unambiguous and relevant written information in various nursing contexts.
• Provide congruent non-verbal communication and oral communication.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 3

• Implement and evaluate health care plans for individual and/or group across the health-illness continuum in collaboration with other members of the health care team.
• Correctly apply information obtained from continuous monitoring of responses to nursing interventions to the individual or group.
• Apply appropriate emergency care and first aid principles in basic life support and when treating injuries and accidents

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 4

• Implement basic nursing interventions with sensitivity to people of diverse backgrounds.
• Provide a professionally sensitive, safe, and therapeutic environment for the individual, family, and community from diverse backgrounds

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.
• Adhere to professional code of conduct in the provision of nursing care
• Provide nursing care in accordance with a standardised plan of care.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 5

• Implement health promotion programmes.

INTEGRATED ASSESSMENT

Formative and Summative assessments will be done throughout the qualification.

Formative Assessment

Formative assessments will be conducted on both theoretical and clinical components of the program. The formative assessments will be done regularly by nurse educators, registered nurses, the peer group and self-assessment. The method of assessment may vary from written tests, assignments, role-play, case studies, workbooks, on-the-spot assessment to simulation or in the accredited clinical facilities. At the commencement of the programme, the learners are provided with an assessment strategy for both the theoretical and clinical components of the program.

Summative Assessment

Summative assessment will be conducted on both the theoretical as well as clinical component of the programme. The Summative Assessment for the theoretical component will be conducted by means of formal theoretical examinations.

At the end of each semester, the learner will write the following examinations

• Biomedical Nursing Sciences and Pharmacology. 1 x 2 (Two) Hour Theoretical Examination at the end of each Semester.
• Integrated Theoretical Examination: 1 x 3 (Three) Hour Theoretical Paper at the end of each semester.

The learner must successfully complete the formative clinical component of the programme to be entered into the summative clinical examination. The clinical assessment will assess the competence of the learner and the ability to integrate theory and clinical principles as well as professional conduct and psycho-social skills.

The clinical assessment of the program will be done by means of

• Monthly professional growth reports.
• Case Study Presentations.
• Clinical Workbooks.
• Clinical Portfolio of Evidence. Summative Clinical examination.

Summative assessments consist of assessment tasks such as assignments, case studies, tests (written or oral), Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE), portfolios, and workbooks. The method of each assessment is clearly stated, for example, written test, assignment, case study and the OSCE. The information on assessments is provided in the subject guide or the clinical learning workbook.

A summative clinical assessment will be conducted by the Nursing Education Institutions (NEIs) at the end of the academic year.

The learner must pass both the theoretical and clinical components of the course with an aggregate of at least 50% to pass the qualification.