Postgraduate Diploma in Primary Health Care

Purpose

The purpose of the qualification is to prepare professional nurses with an interest in providing individuals and communities with health care services in an integrated manner incorporating promotive, preventive and curative health care measures with required skills and competencies. The Primary Care Nurse will work closely with communities in settings such as public and private clinics, primary health care centres, prisons, hospitals, Non-Governmental Organizations, and in private partnerships such as Pharmacy Clinics. The qualification will ensure that the registered Primary Health Care Nurse, through appropriate communication and ethical practices, is able to provide a continuum of care to individuals and communities by providing services such as advice on health promotive matters, by assisting in preventing and managing diseases, by ably taking patient histories and conducting physical assessments, diagnosing illnesses, prescribing treatment, and is able to assess the limitations of scope by referring a patient to the appropriately.

Rationale

The historical policy within South Africa has resulted in large inequalities in the health care system, particularly with the broader rural communities. This has been exacerbated by poverty, poor living conditions and the burden of HIV/AIDS and Tuberculosis. The transformation of health services in South Africa is guided by the White Paper on the Transformation of the Health System in South Africa (South Africa, 1997). The mission statement for the health Care approach in South Africa is "To provide leadership and guidance to the National Health System in its efforts to promote and monitor the health of all people in South Africa, and to provide caring and effective services through a primary health care approach." (White Paper - transformation of the health system 1, 1997). Primary health care is defined by the World Health Organisation (2005) as "essential health care based on practical, scientifically sound and socially acceptable methods and technology made universally accessible to individuals and families in the community through their full participation and at a cost that the community and country can afford.

Primary Health Care Nursing plays a vital role in this initiative, whereby Primary Health Care Nurses will be mainly the first call of health for general community to provide services in providing promotive, preventative, curative and rehabilitative services. It is imperative that a cohort of people are trained with the skills to deal with the plethora of health care services required at the primary interface. The Postgraduate Diploma in Primary Health Care Nursing aims to equip Professional Nurses with the knowledge, skills and competencies to advance the National Health Initiatives in primary health care, to assist with the reduction of the burden of disease, and to increase the health of all communities, leading to concomitant improvement in the socio-economic status of all South Africans.

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) may be used for access to the qualification where the applicant has been working within a Primary Health Nursing context and can clearly demonstrate that they have met the exit level outcomes of a first Bachelor of Nursing degree, wherein they may have a Diploma. This qualification may be achieved in part through the recognition of relevant prior learning and experience as per the University RPL policy in general, which outlines the structure and processes that must be followed to RPL an applicant when the need arises. Appropriate assessment tasks and tools are designed to assess individual candidates against the requisite outcomes on a case-by-case basis, with detailed records maintained. The University has trained RPL in various disciplinary fields to facilitate this process.

Entry Requirements

The minimum entry requirement for this qualification is

• Bachelor of Nursing, Level 7.

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

Compulsory Modules,120 Credits

• Health Assessment, Treatment and Care, 32 Credits.
• Health Care Systems, 20 Credits.
• Research Methodology,12 Credits.
• General Disease Conditions, 32 Credits.
• Research Project, 24 Credits.

1. Apply primary health care and health service management principles in nursing care activities.
2. Critically analyse patients' assessment findings and plan care based on the findings.
3. Apply research findings to manage health care services.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1

• Explain and discuss management policies in health services.
• Synthesise management policies.
• Are competent in team leadership and management during allocation in the clinical area.
• Apply national and international standards in the prevention of communicable conditions.
• Understand theories of health service management.
• Integrate theories of health service management.
• Critique theories of health service management.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 2

• Construct an accurate patient history.
• Analyse information obtained from patients during history taking.
• Demonstrate competence in using diagnostic tools relevant at clinic level.
• Accurately diagnose patients based on the analysis of information from patients.
• Communicate effectively with patients both at an adult and child level.
• Prescribe treatment relevant to the diagnosis accurately and appropriately.
• Initiate treatment based on the latest algorithms as described in essential drug list and National protocols.
• Refers patients to the appropriate health professional.
• Apply national protocols in the treatment of patients.
• Manage acute and chronic conditions at clinic level using different approaches on national and international guidelines.
• Examine patients to evaluate the effects of treatment given.
• Evaluate treatment prescribed during patient care.
• Demonstrate competence in providing follow up of children and adults adolescents, geriatrics with chronic conditions at clinic level.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 3

• Discuss research methodologies used in Primary Health Care.
• Describe and critique different research processes used.
• Design and appraise a research proposal.
• Design data collection instruments.
• Use appropriate analysis methods for data collection.
• Communicates research results clearly both in the written and oral forms.
• Research results are discussed and appropriate recommendations are made.

Integrated Assessment

Learning and assessment across exit level outcomes within the qualification should be integrated vertically and horizontally to ensure a well-structured cohesive qualification. Assessments are based on formative assessments which are in place to assure continuous learning and feedback to candidates and summative assessments, which ensure a judgement of learning at exit level outcomes. Such assessments should assess the candidate's ability to integrate the larger body of knowledge, competencies and attitudes that are represented by the exit-level outcomes, either as a whole or as components of the qualification.