Postgraduate Diploma in Dermatology Nursing

Purpose

The purpose of this qualification is strengthen and deepen the nurse's knowledge in the discipline of Dermatology, the qualification aims to enable working professional nurses to undertake advanced reflection and development by means of a systematic survey of current thinking, practice and research methods in the area of Dermatology. Students will also be exposed to extensive experiential clinical learning (or field work) in various community clinics and hospitals in the public health settings under the supervision of dermatology specialists.

On completion of this qualification, the dermatology nurse practitioner should be able to

• Provide affordable, accessible skin care to all communities in Southern Africa, thus providing access to good quality treatment for the care of the skin.
• Improve the selection of patients for referral to tertiary care, thus reducing costs and overcrowding of facilities at hospital level.
• Provide good follow up of patients discharged from tertiary care, thus reducing the unnecessary retention of patients in tertiary care, thereby decreasing costs for the health services.
• Become an advocate for people with skin problems, providing a platform for promoting good skin health care among primary care health workers and community members.
• Promote research in skin care, particularly in relation to environmental and community health and infectious diseases.

The nurse graduating with this Postgraduate Diploma will have the specialist skills to practice in dermatology in various health-service settings, wherever there is a need for such services.

NOTE: Completion of this qualification will NOT lead to further registration with the South African Nursing Council and may not lead to salary increases at any State Health service provider.

Rationale

There are approximately 150 specialist Dermatologists in South Africa, almost all practicing in the major cities. There are even fewer Dermatologists in other Southern African countries. Undergraduate medical and nursing students receive limited teaching in Dermatology, owing to time constraints and the pressure of other curricular components. As a result, the average medical or nurse practitioner generally lacks both the skills and the confidence to manage skin problems effectively at a primary care level. This means that many people throughout Southern Africa do not have access to acceptable management for their skin conditions, without travelling long distances, at great inconvenience and cost.

The proposed Postgraduate Diploma: Dermatology Nursing is a response to both national and local needs to deliver optimum quality care for dermatology patients in different settings. In addition, it is directly linked to employment opportunities and occupation-specific dispensation recognition wherever the graduate is employed, within and outside the country.

Assumptions of learning already in place include actual knowledge, skills and competencies acquired by the professional nurse including the following:

• Planning, implementing and evaluating nursing care for individuals and groups based on thorough assessment.
• Delivering nursing care to all groups including disabled individuals and providing rehabilitation to different groups with disabilities.
• Making nursing diagnoses and treating minor ailments and common illnesses.
• Maintaining professional nursing in practice.
• Managing a health care unit.
• Providing safe midwifery care.
• Demonstrating basic understanding of research.
• Integrating and applying knowledge of biomedical sciences, including body functioning, pharmacology and socio-psychology in the provision of nursing care within the comprehensive health care system.

Recognition of Prior Learning

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) will be applied on an individual basis and will be conducted in accordance with the Recognition of Prior Learning policy of the University, with approval of the candidate by the Faculty Board.

Access to the Qualification

• A Senior Certificate with matriculation exemption or an equivalent university entrance qualification;

AND

• A four year Nursing Degree or equivalent;

AND

• Current Registration with the South African Nursing Council as a Professional Nurse.

All the Modules are compulsory and are all at NQF Level 8

• Professional Development Studies A, 16 Credits.
• Professional Development Studies B, 16 Credits.
• Research Methods, 16 Credits.
• Counselling Skills, 8 Credits.
• The Science and Language of Dermatology, 8 Credits.
• Common Skin Diseases in the Ambulatory Patient, 8 Credits.
• Age-related Dermatology (Paediatric and Geriatric), 8 Credits.
• Emergency and Tertiary Dermatology, including Infectious diseases, 10 Credits.
• Community and Environmental Dermatology, including Occupational diseases, 10 Credits.
• Dermatology Nursing practice, 20 Credits.

Total Credits for the Qualification: 120.

1. Provide skin health-care and reduce skin infections among individuals and in the community.
2. Promote skin care as part of daily work, with emphasis on the very young and the elderly.
3. Treat people with chronic skin disorders, and provide education, occupational advice and emotional support at all levels.
4. Conduct a research project relevant to Dermatology.

Critical Cross-Field Outcomes

All the Critical Cross-Field Outcomes are addressed in this qualification.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1

1.1 The links between the anatomy, physiology and patho-physiology in skin health and disease are applied to inform good clinical judgment in clinical practice and patient care.

1.2 The skin signs of serious systemic disorders and serious drug reactions, within the physical and psychosocial limitations of clients' health status, are recognised.

1.3 Infectious skin diseases are treated rapidly, thus reducing cross infection and potentially serious systemic infections.

1.4 Potentially life-threatening problems are identified and referred to higher levels of care.

1.5 Early skin signs of serious systemic disorders such as HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and diabetes are recognised and treatment is recommended.

1.6 Good follow up of patients discharged from tertiary care is provided, thereby reducing unnecessarily lengthy stays in tertiary care and reducing costs for the health services.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 2

2.1 Skin health is promoted, disease prevented and rehabilitation provided in a culturally sensitive way for all with skin disorders.

2.2 Advocacy is provided for people with skin problems, which results in the promotion of good skin health care among primary care health workers and community members.

2.3 Care-givers of babies, young children and the elderly are taught how to wash and care for the specific skin disorders of their particular charges.

2.4 The provision of medications such as topical care products is arranged through the relevant social services department for those who qualify for special assistance.

2.5 Dressings for people with chronic wounds are applied and concurrent teaching is provided to relevant care givers regarding wound care.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 3

3.1 Collaboration with nursing and medical staff in the tertiary services is regularly maintained to provide optimal ongoing care for people with serious chronic skin disorders.

3.2 People with occupation-related skin disorders are identified and skin care and education in the workplace is provided, as part of the holistic care of the work force.

3.3 Other health care workers and members of their respective communities are trained to promote skin health, reduce cross-infection and manage chronic wounds.

3.4 Complex and/or real world problems and issues are identified, analysed and dealt with, using evidence-based solutions and theory-driven arguments.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 4

4.1 A comprehensive and systematic knowledge base in a nursing and a depth of knowledge in dermatology nursing is utilised to investigate complex and/or ill-defined problems.

4.2 A coherent and critical understanding of the principles and theories of nursing is applied to critique current research and advanced scholarship in an area of dermatology nursing.

4.3 Sound theoretical judgments are made, based on evidence gathered from current research and scholarly or professional literature in a discipline/field.

4.4 A range of research methods, techniques and technologies are investigated and an appropriate method is selected for a particular research problem in an area of dermatology nursing.

4.5 Efficient and effective information retrieval and processing skills are demonstrated in the identification, critical analysis, synthesis and independent evaluation of quantitative and/or qualitative data.

4.6 Findings and recommendations are presented and communicated effectively to relevant academics/professionals, catering for a range of audiences, by using a range of different genres appropriate to the context.

Integrated Assessment

Formative assessment

• Will be given throughout the course.
• Each of the modules includes assignments, which together contribute 40% towards the final mark.

Summative Assessment

• Each of the modules includes a final assessment, all of which together contribute 60% towards the final mark.
• The end of module examination shall consist of papers, oral and clinical examinations.