SAQA All qualifications and part qualifications registered on the National Qualifications Framework are public property. Thus the only payment that can be made for them is for service and reproduction. It is illegal to sell this material for profit. If the material is reproduced or quoted, the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) should be acknowledged as the source.
SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY 
REGISTERED QUALIFICATION: 

Higher Certificate in Nursing 
SAQA QUAL ID QUALIFICATION TITLE
111695  Higher Certificate in Nursing 
ORIGINATOR
University of Venda 
PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY NQF SUB-FRAMEWORK
-   HEQSF - Higher Education Qualifications Sub-framework 
QUALIFICATION TYPE FIELD SUBFIELD
Higher Certificate  Field 09 - Health Sciences and Social Services  Curative Health 
ABET BAND MINIMUM CREDITS PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL QUAL CLASS
Undefined  120  Not Applicable  NQF Level 05  Regular-Provider-ELOAC 
REGISTRATION STATUS SAQA DECISION NUMBER REGISTRATION START DATE REGISTRATION END DATE
Reregistered  EXCO 0821/24  2019-09-03  2027-06-30 
LAST DATE FOR ENROLMENT LAST DATE FOR ACHIEVEMENT
2028-06-30   2031-06-30  

In all of the tables in this document, both the pre-2009 NQF Level and the NQF Level is shown. In the text (purpose statements, qualification rules, etc), any references to NQF Levels are to the pre-2009 levels unless specifically stated otherwise.  

This qualification does not replace any other qualification and is not replaced by any other qualification. 

PURPOSE AND RATIONALE OF THE QUALIFICATION 
Purpose:
The primary purpose of the Higher Certificate in Nursing is to produce a competent nurse who will provide nursing care in all spheres of health care service delivery. The qualification will produce a nurse with a wide range of cognitive, affective and psychomotor skills. It is the primary purpose of the qualification to produce a nurse who can provide quality health care services independently in a variety of health care settings within the relevant legal and ethical parameters. The qualification aims at enabling the nurses to sharpen the skills in assessment, planning and implementation of nursing care. The nurses will be able to communicate effectively in a variety of ways in a nursing context. The qualification also aims at producing nurses who will be able to interact sensitively and professionally with people from diverse backgrounds.

Rationale:
The qualification is responding to the re-engineering of primary health-care approach as well as the skills shortage to facilitate National Health Insurance (NHI) in the delivery of health care services to the rural health settings. Nurse practitioners are more competent than Community health workers, and will, therefore, be able to respond to some of the development needs of the community. The development of this qualification followed the pronouncement by the South African Nursing Council that from 2020, South Africa will be offering new qualifications.

The first professional category in Nursing is the need to have nurses to perform primary nursing care for the patients at the clinics as well as the hospitals. The Higher Certificate in Nursing will enable these nurses to perform these duties.

The institution submitted the curriculum of the qualification to the South African Nursing Council for assessment and approval. The South African Nursing Council evaluated the qualification and also sent back the evaluated curriculum with comments for corrections. The department of Advanced Nursing Science worked on the curriculum. The learners from this qualification will articulate to a Diploma in Nursing Science which is over three years, and the learner qualifies as a professional nurse (general nurse only). This learner can also articulate to a Degree in Nursing which is over four years. Upon completion, the learner qualifies as a professional nurse with general and midwifery qualifications.

The society will benefit from the learner as the learner will render quality basic nursing, prevent medico-legal hazards. Upon completion of the qualification, employment of the learner will lead to the contribution to the economy of the country. 

LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL):
The achievement of the qualification in part is possible through recognition of relevant prior learning and prior experience as a community health worker. The necessary evidence, as required by the Exit Level Outcomes and presented by the learner, must meet the following principles:
  • The currency of evidence.
  • Sufficiency of the evidence.
  • The validity of evidence and authenticity of the evidence.

    RPL will be in accordance with the policies and procedures of this institution.

    Entry Requirements:
    The minimum entry requirement for this qualification is:
  • National Senior Certificate, NQF Level 4, granting access to Higher Certificate studies.
  • Senior Certificate without endorsement. 
    		•

    RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING? 
    Y 

    EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES 
    1. Apply knowledge of anatomy, physiology, biophysics, pharmacology and microbiology in the provision of nursing care.
    2. Communicate effectively in a variety of ways in a nursing context.
    3. Use the scientific nursing approach to address the basic needs of individuals and groups in a various health care setting.
    4. Demonstrate appropriate methods of interacting sensitively and professionally with people from diverse backgrounds.
    5. Maintain professionalism in nursing practice within the ethical and legal framework.
    6. Participate in addressing the needs of individuals and groups in a community. 

    ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 
    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1:
  • Demonstrate an understanding macro body structure and functioning by the nursing care provided, in accordance with the relevant scope of practice.
  • Demonstrate an understanding of the structure and functioning of anatomy, physiology, biophysics.
  • Demonstrate an understanding of pharmacology and microbiology in the provision of nursing care.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 2:
  • Maintain oral and written communication to promote effective fundamental nursing care.
  • Ensure written communication is clear, relevant and unambiguous.
  • Ensure non-verbal communication is congruent with oral communication.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 3:
  • Implement and evaluate individual and/or group health care plans across the health illness continuum in collaboration with other members of the health care team.
  • Obtain information from continuous monitoring of responses to nursing interventions are correctly applied to the individual or group.
  • Apply appropriate emergency care and first aid principles in respect of:
    > Treatment of injuries and accidents.
    > Basic life support is applied.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 4:
  • Implement nursing interventions with sensitivity to people of diverse backgrounds.
  • Provide nursing care as prescribed or directed by a professional nurse or staff nurse.
  • Provide nursing care in accordance with a standardised plan of care.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 5:
  • Record data in compliance with legal criteria.
  • Maintain patient records accurately, concisely and systematically, to reflect the basic nursing care rendered.
  • Maintain confidentiality and integrity of patient information in interaction with patients and others.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 6:
  • Implement health promotion programmes.
  • Display adherence to professional code of conduct in provision of nursing care.
  • Render basic first aid.

    Integrated Assessment:
    For each module, learners will be expected to submit one written assignment, write one test, give oral presentation and write an examination at the end of semester. For each formative task given, a learner will receive written and oral individual and group feedback. 
    		•

    INTERNATIONAL COMPARABILITY 
    The Higher Certificate in Nursing is comparable to the following international qualifications:

    New Mexico State University offers a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA). Learners will:
  • Learn basic anatomy and physiology.
  • The ethos of Nursing and Professional Practice.
  • Basic nursing science (integrated pharmacology and First Aid).
  • Promotive and Preventive Health.
  • Fundamental Nursing Skills how to provide routine personal and healthcare assistance to the sick and elderly.
    Becoming a CNA requires the successful completion of a nursing assistant programme followed by the passing of a state certification examination.

    In Sweden, Linnaeus University offers a Nurse Assistant or Patient Care Assistant qualification. The learner will learn:
  • Human Biology (Microbiology, Pharmacology Anatomy, Physiology).
  • Healthcare Principles and Ethics.
  • Medical Terminology. 
    		•

    ARTICULATION OPTIONS 
    This qualification allows possibilities for both horizontal and vertical articulation.

    Horizontal Articulation:
  • Higher Certificate in Auxiliary Nursing, NQF Level 5.

    Vertical Articulation:
  • Diploma in Nursing Science, NQF Level 6. 
    		•

    MODERATION OPTIONS 
    N/A 

    CRITERIA FOR THE REGISTRATION OF ASSESSORS 
    N/A 

    NOTES 
    N/A 

    LEARNING PROGRAMMES RECORDED AGAINST THIS QUALIFICATION: 
     
    NONE 


    PROVIDERS CURRENTLY ACCREDITED TO OFFER THIS QUALIFICATION: 
    This information shows the current accreditations (i.e. those not past their accreditation end dates), and is the most complete record available to SAQA as of today. Some Primary or Delegated Quality Assurance Functionaries have a lag in their recording systems for provider accreditation, in turn leading to a lag in notifying SAQA of all the providers that they have accredited to offer qualifications and unit standards, as well as any extensions to accreditation end dates. The relevant Primary or Delegated Quality Assurance Functionary should be notified if a record appears to be missing from here.
     
    NONE 


    All qualifications and part qualifications registered on the National Qualifications Framework are public property. Thus the only payment that can be made for them is for service and reproduction. It is illegal to sell this material for profit. If the material is reproduced or quoted, the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) should be acknowledged as the source.