Postgraduate Diploma in Occupational Health Nursing

Purpose

The primary purpose of Postgraduate Diploma in Occupational Health Nursing is to enable occupational health nursing practitioners to undertake reflection and expansion through systematic scrutiny of current rational, practice and research methods in the area of occupational health nursing specialisation. A high level of theoretical engagement and intellectual independence, as well as the ability to relate knowledge to a range of contexts to undertake competent occupational health nursing services. The curriculum will contribute towards the development of an occupational health nurse practitioner who will be able to demonstrate the ability to:

• Integrate knowledge of occupational health and safety.
• Understand contemporary issues in occupational health and take appropriate action.
• Take ethical and professional decisions that are informed by the clinical expertise, research and patient preference.
• Identify, analyse, evaluate, critically reflect on and address complex problems, applying evidence-based solutions and theory-driven arguments.
• Take full responsibility for their work, decision making and use of resources.
• Identify, evaluate and address his or her life-long learning needs in a self-directed manner.
• Develop and communicate his or her ideas and opinion in well-informed arguments using appropriate occupational, academic or professional discourse.
• Develop appropriate processes of information gathering for a given context or use an ability to validate, evaluate and manage the sources of information independently.

The learner will have the ability to clinically reason, think critically, competently apply and integrate theoretical principles and evidence-based techniques to solving novel and complex problems in a variety of clinical occupational health settings.

Rationale

Specialist Occupational Health Nurse Practitioners are required in organisations to implement qualifications and manage the health and safety of employees and surrounding communities as per the Occupational Health and Safety Act No. 85 of 1993. Organisations require experienced professional nurses who are capable of providing occupational and environmental health nursing services at a managerial level. In most cases, the Occupational Health Nursing Practitioner functions independently and mostly alone in the organisation and requires competence in applying occupational and environmental health nursing and management strategies and technologies to occupational health practice. Occupational Health Nursing Practitioners are vital in all workplaces to:

• Ensure a healthy workforce;
• To manage chronic, communicable and non-communicable diseases;
• Minimise the health effects of exposure to job-related hazards;
• Contain the health sequelae of injury on duty incidence and work-related diseases.

Productivity increases with less absenteeism resulting in an improved economy. Occupational health is a legal requirement for employees in all organisations.

Successful completion of this qualification will entitle the learner to register for an additional nursing qualification with the South African Nursing Council (SANC) as an Occupational Health Nurse Practitioner.

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)

RPL is a national imperative in the effort to transform higher education and to give South African`s who did not have opportunities of higher education an opportunity based on their work experience, educational opportunities they have had. The idea of RPL is in line with the elements of transformation; accreditation; lifelong learning and the NQF (SAQA, 2013).

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) Coordination Policy (2016) has as its purpose, amongst others

• To facilitate access and admission to learning qualifications;
• To accelerate redress of past unfair discrimination in education, training and employment opportunities;
• To promote and facilitate lifelong learning (DUT, 2009).

The Department of Nursing has, in its rules, admission via RPL, which allows potential learners RPL for advanced standing to enable them to access the Postgraduate Diploma in Occupational Health Nursing. Access through RPL could be considered for learners who have completed a "bridging" qualification to professional nurse (R683) and have a Diploma in Midwifery (R254). This rule also allows potential learners who have other occupational health nursing qualifications to apply for exemption of modules towards the Postgraduate Diploma in Occupational Health Nursing.

Learners will be required to develop a Portfolio of Evidence (PoE) using the ten competencies of the National Qualification Framework (NQF) (HEQSF) at Level 7. The assessment of the PoE with the question "does this learner show the competence to complete a Postgraduate Diploma in Occupational Health Nursing qualification" in mind.

Entry Requirements

The minimum entry requirement for this qualification is

• Bachelor of Nursing, NQF, Level 8.

Or

• A four-year Diploma in Nursing (R425).

Or

• A three-year Diploma in Nursing (360 Credits) and Diploma in Midwifery (R254), NQF Level 6.

Or

• Advanced Diploma in Midwifery, NQF Level 7.

This qualification consists of compulsory modules at National Qualifications Framework Level 8 totalling 120 Credits

• Principles of business leadership and management, 12 Credits.
• Occupational Health Nursing and Law, 12 Credits.
• Occupational Health, 24, Credits.
• Occupational Health Nursing, 24, Credits.
• Contemporary Occupational Health Nursing issues, 12 Credits.
• Occupational Health Practice, 12 Credits.
• Occupational Health Nursing Practice, 12, Credits.
• Nursing Research, 12, Credits.

1. Function within the professional ethical and legal framework of the Occupational health nursing profession and related fields.
2. Act as a change agent in the delivery of Occupational health care services within the context of a sustainable enterprise.
3. Assess, plan, implement and evaluate Occupational Healthcare services and qualifications.
4. Critically appraise research reports/studies using the Evidence-Based Practice principles and formulate creative responses to Occupational health problems.
5. Demonstrate the ability to implement advanced communication, technology and interpersonal skills in the management of health in worker populations.
6. Implement Quality Assurance strategies in line with the National as well as other internationally recognised standards.
7. Participate as an active member of an Occupational health inter-professional team in the management of health and safety in the workplace.
8. To use the principles of Evidence-Based Practice and patient participation to assess, diagnose, plan for care, implement and evaluate individual clients at work.
9. Critically reflect on clinical Occupational health nursing practice as part of the cycle of continuous quality improvement.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1

• Apply relevant legislation in the management of complex occupational health problems.
• Use ethical principles and legislation for decision making (including patient advocacy and participative care) in occupational health practice.
• Refer to relevant legislation when developing policies and practice guidelines and interpretation of these to benefit the employer and employee.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 2

• Understand contemporary issues such as climate change and the impact of this on worker health.
• Understand what sustainable health care means and the application of this to their occupational health practice.
• Apply international conventions, policies and guidelines to Occupational Health practice.
• Identify and apply appropriate South African National Standards to occupational health practice, e.g. SANS 10083 for Audiometry.
• Understand the International Labour Organisation (ILO) Conventions for Occupational Health and Nursing.
• Implement appropriate South African National Department of Health qualifications in occupational settings.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 3

• Utilise health prevention strategies to address occupational stressors and hazard exposure to prevent ill health and occupational disease.
• Understand the methodology for hazard identification and health risk assessment (HIRA).
• Apply knowledge of toxicology and the application of this to worker hazard exposure and assessment of risk.
• Utilise information to develop occupational risk exposure profiles based on the Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment (HIRA) and toxicology of exposures.
• Develop risk-based medical surveillance qualifications for employees.
• Use the principles of clinical reasoning in making a nursing diagnosis of occupational diseases and other common diseases and planning nursing care for individuals and groups of employees.
• Design and leads the implementation of Health Promotion Qualifications that support a positive lifestyle and individual/group efforts to lower the risk of disease and injury.
• Perform specific screening tests and other identified examinations for the identification of potential occupational diseases and injuries.
• Support, refer and guide employees following an extended absence from work as a result of an injury or illness.
• Develop and review emergency rescue plans/resources.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 4

• Understand research methodologies, methods and techniques relevant to occupational health nursing.
• Identify occupational and environmental clinical nursing problems.
• Critically appraise multiple sources of knowledge in occupational health nursing.
• Synthesise information to develop creative responses to occupational and environmental clinical nursing problems.
• Demonstrate and present academic and professional evidence as a solution to occupational and environmental clinical nursing problems.
• Demonstrate and present academic and professional evidence as a solution to occupational and environmental clinical nursing problems.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 5

• Utilise principles of communication in therapeutic communication and other advanced communication strategies in complex Occupational Health settings.
• Utilise a scientific approach to collaboratively develop and coordinate mutually agreed upon care plans for individuals and groups.
• Demonstrate an ability to apply technology in Occupational Health settings.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 6

• Utilise principles of quality management in quality improvement in the occupational health setting.
• Utilise valid audit tools to audit occupational health and safety services and occupational health qualifications, e.g. ISO 45001.
• Develop policies and protocols relevant to the occupational setting.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 7

• Develop within team approach care plans for the worker based on the diagnosis to prevent, treat, manage and refer occupational and other diseases.
• Work collaboratively with other professionals as an active member and leader of the health team.
• Identify learning strategies which effectively address his or her professional and ongoing learning needs and those of others.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 8

• Assess existing or potential risk or need.
• Enhance intrinsic motivation through patient participative strategies.
• Empower through skills training.
• Increase positive reinforcement.
• Engage and encourage ongoing support and counselling.
• Evaluate and measure progress/feedback.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 9

• Develop academic writing skills through the writing of reflective journals.
• Identify and use reflective models to reflect on practice.
• Utilise learnt reflective skills to improve future Occupational health nursing practice.

Integrated Assessment

The use of a variety of assessment methods to ensure competency in all outcomes is achievable. Written and oral presentation (using technology) of case studies, written assessments, reflective diaries, compiling and producing a portfolio of evidence and clinical assessment in authentic clinical settings.

Institutional/Faculty and Professional Council assessment policies and rules will be communicated to all learners during the orientation session after their registration. Transparency and fairness on all summative assessments are by providing full information on each assessment, calculation of marks/marking rubric and weighting.

Learners will have information and guidance on their rights and responsibilities regarding assessment processes, e.g. Plagiarism policy, terms of appeals, supplementary examinations. Breaches of assessment policies will be dealt with timeously, fairly and effectively.

Learners will undertake both oral and written feedback on all assessments. Written feedback will be given to learners individually on the assessment script, and oral feedback will be given as a composite to the entire class following the evaluation of the assessment.