Master of Nursing

a) To provide a pool of specialised Nurse Practitioners with the necessary clinical, managerial, research and educational knowledge, skills and attitudes to assume positions of leadership within the field of Nursing Science

b) To provide Nurse Practitioners who can act as specialist consultants in public and private health care services, within the chosen area of specialisation.

c) To equip the qualifying learner with a sophisticated knowledge and understanding of phenomena pertinent to the field of Nursing Science

d) To ensure mastery of the chosen area of specialisation in Nursing Science, by high level analysis of new information, the ability to deal with complexity and to find workable solutions to problems and challenges

e) To enable the qualifying learner to do advanced and independent research through rigorous training in research methods

f) To introduce the qualifying learner to the world of scholarly communication, inter alia through assistance in publishing own research reports

g) To contribute to the pool of nursing academics and professionals with the competence and critical intellectual abilities to ensure future advancement of the field of Nursing Science

h) To address the country's need for nurse specialists of the highest calibre in the workforce

i) To provide benefits for the South African community and economy by

• Allowing South African citizens of all population and ethnic groups, who meet the necessary admission criteria, to obtain advanced qualifications in the field of Nursing Science
• To provide the community with specialist nursing expertise

j) To fulfil the objectives of the National Qualification Framework by laying the foundation for further post-graduate studies and ongoing professional development

Senior Certificate with Matriculation Exemption or equivalent university admission qualification.

First degree: For admission to the MCur programme, qualfifying learners should be in possession of the four-year BCur degree in Nursing Science.

Honours degree: HonsB degree of the university of Stellenbosch

Other qualifications

Applicants not in possession of a BCur or HonsB-degree must be in possession of an equivalent qualification as approved by the Senate

or

A matriculation certificate or matriculation exemption certificate, a four-year Diploma in Nursing (or equivalent qualification) and at least one post-basic university Diploma* as approved by the Senate.

• Applicants must have remained professionally active after having obtained the post-basic university Diploma

1). GENERIC / CRITICAL CROSS FIELD OUTCOMES

The qualifying learner will

1. Effectively apply health sciences and technology and demonstrate mastery of advanced theory and its application to the chosen area of specialisation in the field of Nursing Science.
2. Demonstrate advanced knowledge of health service delivery within a systems model, in which problem solving contexts cannot exist in isolation.
3. Demonstrate as an advanced nurse practitioner, responsible participation in the promotion of the quality of life of the local community, the South African population and the global community.
4. Demonstrate advanced understanding of cultural, religious and ethnic diversities and their influences on the health care consumer's perception of health and illness
5. Identify, and find solutions to health related problems through research and the use of critical and creative thinking.
6. Demonstrate leadership of health care teams and groups in the community.
7. Demonstrate the capacity for organising and managing comprehensive nursing services
8. Be able to submit research findings for publication in an approved scientific publication
9. Communicate research findings effectively to colleagues, in order to improve service programmes
10. Collect, analyse, organise and critically appraise information.
11. Reflect on and explore a variety of research strategies to promote rigorous scientific investigation.

2). SPECIFIC OUTCOMES

The MCur graduate will have

1. Comprehensive knowledge in his/her chosen area of specialisation within the field of Nursing Science.
2. Mastery of advanced theory and its application to the specialised field in Nursing Science
3. Familiarity with the literature and state of research on his/her chosen area of specialisation
4. An understanding of the constructed and provisional nature of knowledge
5. Well-developed research skills

The MCur graduate will be able to

1. Critically evaluate relevant literature
2. Identify and define complex problems and apply appropriate knowledge and skills for their solution
3. Perform independent analysis of new data and problems and confidently use a wide range of appropriate methods, techniques and research skills
4. Critically review evidence from the body of scientific literature and from own research findings, to support conclusions
5. Extrapolate implications and impact of given data and use higher cognitive skills to relate date to new, broader issues through deductive reasoning
6. Identify contradictions, challenge orthodox theory and practices, and suggest new methodologies
7. Interact and engage in debate with a learning or professional group and produce detailed and coherent reports
8. Take initiative, negotiate effectively and manage conflict in intellectual debate

The Mcur graduate will demonstrate

1. Mastery of advanced theoretical subject matter within the specialised field of Nursing Science
2. Capacity for independent study and research through the completion of assignments, projects and or a thesis
3. Understanding and application of appropriate academic and professional values and ethics
4. Academic self-reflection and adaptability

2).

• The assessment used for the qualification of MCur ensures that the purpose of the qualification is achieved.
• The assessment used meets the standard and level of achievement for NQF level 8a
• For the Mcur by thesis only, a thesis and oral examinations are used
• For the MCur by course work, a range of formative and summative assessment methods are used, such as assignment methods are used, such as assignments, projects, presentations, case-studies, a research assignment and written examinations
• The qualifying learner's written and oral presentations must be of an acceptable academic standard in terms of the use of Afrikaans or English language and the structural organisation of presentations.

INTEGRATED ASSESSMENT

a). For a Master's degree (without a preceding Honours degree)

At the end of the first year of study the qualifying learner must achieve a minimum of 50% in the written examinations and have satisfactorily completed all compulsory assignments

Qualifying learners must submit a research assignment containing a report of their research. This report must meet the standards and requirements of a Master's research assignment and should demonstrate proof of successful integration of theoretical constructs and research competencies at a Master's level.

b). For a Master's degree (with a preceding Honours degree)

qualifying learners must submit a thesis that meets the standards and requirements of a Master's thesis. The thesis should demonstrate proof of successful integration of theoretical constructs and research competencies at a Master's level.