Bachelor of Nursing
Health Sciences and Social Services - Preventive Health
Purpose and Rationale
Purpose: The purpose of the Bachelor of Nursing is to produce competent professional nurse practitioners within a wide range of health service settings. The qualification aims to provide qualifying learners with a wide range of skills, knowledge, and attitudes that will enable them to make a meaningful and sustained contribution to health services. Further, the qualification will equip qualifying learners with a developed sense of equity, justice, and service ethics that will ensure that the learners work in a responsible and accountable manner, irrespective of their chosen workplace. This qualification offers a wide range of transferable skills for application in other professions, disciplines, and general life, including:
- A methodical solution-based approach to problem-solving.
- An empowerment-based approach to the development of self and others.
- Competence in written and oral communication.
- Capacity to assess and implement health and other policies.
- Ability to plan, implement, and manage projects of varied nature.
- Research capacity.
Rationale: The Bachelor of Nursing is an existing qualification on the Programme Qualifications Mix (PQM) but was submitted as new due to requirements from the South African Nursing Council (SANC). The development of this qualification is responding to the national needs and skills shortages of nurses in the region. The qualification is responsive to improving the health status of people in South Africa, particularly in the rural areas of the various provinces, achieved through the provision of a quality community-based, primary healthcare-focused, problem-based, and project-driven curriculum. The South African Strategic Plan is based on the primary health care approach, to deliver primary health care services to rural health settings.
Competent nurse practitioners will be able to assess, diagnose, plan, and implement nursing care to individuals, families, and communities within the region. South Africa faces a compound burden of communicable diseases such as HIV/AIDS, TB, and Malaria; other communicable and non-communicable diseases, violence, and injuries with consequent high levels of morbidity and mortality.
South Africa's predominantly nurse-based healthcare system requires nurses to have the competence and expertise to manage the country's burden of diseases and to meet the healthcare needs of the country's people. The critical shortage of Human Resources for Health (HRH) undermines the regional health system's effectiveness and efficiency in delivering healthcare services to those in need.
Nursing education and training at the institution are responding to changing needs, developments, priorities, and expectations related to health and healthcare. Nursing learners who acquire the knowledge, skills, and behaviors that meet standards will be equipped to meet present and future challenges, improve health and well-being, improve standards and quality, and work in a range of roles including practitioner, educator, leader, and researcher. Nurses as autonomous practitioners will provide essential care of a very high standard and provide complex care using the best available evidence and technology where appropriate as the district is also the first to pilot the National Health Insurance (NHI) strategy in the region.
Outcomes
- Identify and address ethical and legal issues based on critical reflection on the suitability of different ethical value (and legal) systems to the nursing and midwifery practice within the legal framework.
- Apply knowledge of biological and natural sciences, psycho-social sciences and pharmacology in the provision of safe nursing and midwifery care, throughout the life span, in a variety of health care settings and communities in response to the population's needs.
- Effectively manage the health care unit and health facility with an understanding of the roles and relationships within the multidisciplinary team.
- Access, produce and manage information effectively to a range of audiences.
- Utilise research in investigating nursing, midwifery and health-related problems.
- Apply learning strategies effectively to address own and others' professional and personal ongoing learning needs in a self-critical manner.
- Apply knowledge of theories, methods and techniques in the practice of safe clinical nursing and midwifery that is responsive to the needs of the individual, the family and the community, following national legislative and policy frameworks.
- Provide safe and quality midwifery and neonatal care in a scientific, integrated and evidence-based approach in all health care settings.
Assessment Criteria
Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1:
- Advocate for activities that promote individual, group, and community rights concerning the law and health care provision.
- Apply practice consistently in a manner that reflects a clear understanding and interpretation of the requirements of South African Nursing and Health Care legislation, including the primary healthcare approach.
- Interpret and apply ethical codes, professional accountability and responsibility, and standards for the practice of nursing and midwifery consistently in line with their spirit and intent.
Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 2:
- Demonstrate knowledge of psychology and sociology in nursing and midwifery practice to benefit health care delivery.
- Apply knowledge of bio-natural sciences for effective nursing and midwifery care delivery.
- Implement nursing interventions based on individualized plans for mentally ill persons and understand common emotional and behavioral disorders.
- Provide therapeutic interventions to mentally ill persons and contribute to their therapeutic management.
- Provide support to patients recovering from illness and prepare them for discharge.
- Apply technology in nursing and midwifery practice for effective diagnosis and treatment of illnesses.
- Provide treatment and manage common conditions following relevant legislation and protocols.
- Demonstrate understanding of pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics in prescribing drugs.
Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 3:
- Plan and provide health care based on sound assessment and informed decision-making.
- Develop unit philosophy, vision, mission, goals, policy, and procedures complying with legislation and international best practices.
- Establish systems for cost-effective and efficient service delivery.
- Direct management and leadership activities to establish a team approach to health care.
- Manage pharmacological preparations ensuring correct storage and administration.
- Implement quality management systems effectively.
Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 4:
- Organize, present, and communicate professional information accurately and consistently.
- Promote community involvement in health care.
- Assess, plan, implement, and evaluate documents accurately and timeously.
- Monitor standards for unit health care delivery and identify areas for improvement.
- Communicate effectively using various media.
- Use interpersonal skills to establish supportive relationships.
Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 5:
- Conduct research based on identified needs following standard research processes.
- Conduct research ethically and develop strategies based on epidemiological principles.
- Provide care based on scientific evidence.
Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 6:
- Maintain personal development and emotional balance.
- Engage in professional development activities.
- Conduct research activities to develop professional knowledge.
- Direct learning activities towards positive health outcomes.
- Direct mentoring activities to develop others.
Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 7:
- Ensure health care is appropriate and based on comprehensive health assessment.
- Implement nursing care according to plans.
- Identify changes in health care status and implement preventive measures.
- Diagnose and manage conditions accurately.
- Deliver nursing care for long-term and terminally ill patients.
- Demonstrate competent clinical skills.
- Implement problem-solving strategies.
Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 8:
- Prepare women and families for pregnancy, childbirth, and family changes appropriately.
- Conduct comprehensive obstetric history-taking and physical examinations.
- Monitor the wellbeing of the foetus and manage the mother during childbirth.
- Manage the newborn baby and identify potential emergencies.
- Provide postnatal care for the wellbeing of mother and child.
Integrated Assessment:
- Learning outcomes will be assessed in an integrated manner.
- Formative assessments include written assignments, tests, and oral presentations.
- Learners must obtain a minimum of 40% in formative assessment to be admitted to the final examination.
- Summative assessment includes a written examination at the end of the semester.
Qualification Details
- Type
- National First Degree(Min 480)
- NQF Level
- 08
- Min. Credits
- 480
- SAQA Source
- More Information
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This page includes information from the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) . Builtneat Pty Ltd trading as Study Start, has modified all or some of this information. SAQA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.