Health Sciences and Social Services - Curative Health
The four-year Nursing Science qualification is aimed at preparing clinically focused and service orientated independent professionals who will be able to render holistic and emancipatory nursing care in all spheres of health care (general, community health, mental health, and midwifery).
Specifically, the purpose is to produce nurses who are competent to function within a district health system, with specific reference to Primary Health Care settings. The focus will be on relevant, authentic, and transformative learning experiences that recognize the significance of socio-linguistic meaning perspectives about health and disease as well as critical understanding of social, political, and economic determinants of health.
1. Nursing Personnel Shortage: South Africa has been and continues to experience a serious problem of nursing personnel shortage. The National Human Resources Plan for Health proposed an annual production of 3000 professional nurses by 2011 (Department of Health, 2006).
2. Addressing Changing Disease Profile: The changing disease profile, exacerbated by the HIV/AIDS pandemic and its escalating toll on the lives of South Africans, requires nurses who are able to think independently and solve problems in the workplace.
3. Global Demand for Nursing Personnel: Nursing is one of the most sought out health professions globally. An undergraduate Degree in nursing ensures that Durban University of Technology (DUT) contributes to the national and global strategy for increased production of nursing personnel, a category of health personnel that is fast becoming a scarce human resource globally.
4. Demand for Nursing Education in KZN: There is a demand for undergraduate nursing education in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN). An undergraduate Degree in Nursing contributes to the national and global strategy for increased production of nursing personnel, a category of health personnel that is fast becoming a scarce human resource globally.
5. Qualification Benefits: The qualification will enable the learner to function as a clinically focused, service oriented, independent, registered professional nurse, who is able to render comprehensive care across all spheres of health, as determined by the appropriate legislative framework. In addition, qualifying learners will apply evidence based research to enhance nursing practice.
6. Professional Registration: On successful completion of the qualification, learners are eligible for registration with the South African Nursing Council as nurses (general, psychiatric and community health) and midwives.
7. Progression Opportunities: Furthermore, the qualification provides for progression to Postgraduate nursing studies and thus has the potential to contribute to the nation's efforts to increase both service and academic nurse practitioners.
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.