SAQA

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SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY

REGISTERED QUALIFICATION:

Postgraduate Diploma in Emergency Nursing

SAQA QUAL ID	QUALIFICATION TITLE
119491	Postgraduate Diploma in Emergency Nursing
ORIGINATOR
Stellenbosch University
PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY			NQF SUB-FRAMEWORK
-			HEQSF - Higher Education Qualifications Sub-framework
QUALIFICATION TYPE	FIELD		SUBFIELD
Postgraduate Diploma	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 08	Regular-Provider-ELOAC
REGISTRATION STATUS		SAQA DECISION NUMBER	REGISTRATION START DATE	REGISTRATION END DATE
Reregistered		EXCO 0333/25	2025-07-10	2028-07-10
LAST DATE FOR ENROLMENT		LAST DATE FOR ACHIEVEMENT
2029-07-10		2032-07-10

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 purpose of the Postgraduate Diploma in Emergency Nursing is to equip the learner with the necessary knowledge and skills needed to be an emergency nurse in the emergency care setting.

The qualification will ensure that the emergency nurse is able to:

Address injury prevention initiatives on primary, secondary and tertiary levels in order to reduce the burden of injuries on the South African population.

Critically reflect on practice and analyse epidemiological evidence to determine and implement injury prevention strategies, triage, and respond to the rapidly changing physiological and psychological status of emergency care patients.

Analyse the mechanism of injury and/ or prehospital history and/ or the patient's clinical presentation to draw up a person-centred care plan.

Take care of any foreseeable emergencies, collaborate with the multidisciplinary team to assess, diagnose, prioritise, stabilize, and transfer or discharge a patient and initiate appropriate and sensitive contact and conversations with patients, families and/ or significant others.

The competencies of this nurse specialist overlap with some of the competencies of other nursing specialisations. The emergency nurse competencies overlap with one another and should include components of:
>Intensive care/ Critical Care Nursing

Orthopaedic Nursing and Neurological Nursing

Medical and Surgical Nursing Care

Paediatric and Neonatal Emergency Nursing Care

Maternal/ Obstetrical Emergency Nursing

Forensic Nursing

Operating Theatre Nursing

Community Health Nursing

Upon completion of this qualification, qualifying learners will be able to:

Practice within the ethical-legal parameters of the profession and resolves professional-ethical
dilemmas by using decision-making and moral reasoning models.

Apply knowledge and principles of the research process applicable to specialist clinical practice.

Render and co-ordinate comprehensive specialist nursing/ midwifery care according to the patients' needs using the scientific approach.

Implement standards to ensure quality patients care and safety.

Apply specialist knowledge and principles when communicating, making theoretical arguments, or developing documentation.

Participate actively in the multi-professional team by demonstrating shared leadership and decision-making.

Provide professional support for personnel, patients, families, and communities to promote independence and behavioural change to enhance health outcomes.

Demonstrate scholarship of teaching and learning through evidence-based education.

Facilitate learning in a positive learning environment to optimize competence in nursing practice.

Implement appropriate strategies to develop self and other nurse leaders.

Manage a health care unit and health facility based on the understanding of the roles and relationships.

LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL):
The institution has an approved Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) policy which is applicable to equivalent qualifications for admission into the qualification. RPL will be applied to accommodate applicants who qualify. RPL thus provides alternative access and admission to qualifications, as well as advancement within qualifications. RPL may be applied for access, credits from modules and credits for or towards the qualification.

RPL for access:

Learners who do not meet the minimum entrance requirements or the required qualification that is at the same NQF level as the qualification required for admission may be considered for admission through RPL.

To be considered for admission in the qualification based on RPL, applicants should provide evidence in the form of a portfolio that demonstrates that they have acquired the relevant knowledge, skills, and competencies through formal, non-formal and/or informal learning to cope with the qualification expectations should they be allowed entrance into the qualification.

RPL for exemption of modules:

Learners may apply for RPL to be exempted from modules that form part of the qualification. For a learner to be exempted from a module, the learner needs to provide sufficient evidence in the form of a portfolio that demonstrates that competency was achieved for the learning outcomes that are equivalent to the learning outcomes of the module.

RPL for credit:

Learners may also apply for RPL for credit for or towards the qualification, in which they must provide evidence in the form of a portfolio that demonstrates prior learning through formal, non-formal and/or informal learning to obtain credits towards the qualification.

Credit shall be appropriate to the context in which it is awarded and accepted.

Entry Requirements:
The minimum entry requirement for this qualification is:

Bachelor of Nursing, NQF Level 7.
Or

Advanced Diploma in Critical Care Nursing, NQF Level 7.
Or

A relevant qualification in the related field, NQF Level 7.

RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING?

QUALIFICATION RULES

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

Compulsory Modules, Level 8,120 Credits:

Praxis of Specialist Practice, 8 Credits.

Leadership and Development in Specialist Practice, 8 Credits.

Evidence based nursing and midwifery practice, 8 Credits.

Principles and Processes in Emergency Nursing, 28 Credits.

System Abnormalities: Emergency Nursing, 23 Credits.

Specialist Emergency Nursing Practice, 45 Credits.

EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES

1. Practice and facilitate specialist nursing or midwifery, nursing education or health services management within ethical - legal parameters of the profession.
2. Apply the knowledge of and facilitate evidence-based practice, nursing education or management in the specialist field to solve contextual problems and develop policies and guidelines.
3. Demonstrate understanding of the various risk factors that impact on health and wellness within the workplace and applies strategies to care for self, peers, employees, and learners.
4. Demonstrate the use of appropriate communication skills and channels in facilitating advocacy.
5. Engage in planning, commissioning, and managing a specialist unit, an educational entity, or a health service.
6. Demonstrate knowledge of appropriate search engines and databases for review of literature to inform evidence-based practice, education, and health services management.
7. Demonstrate utilisation of comprehensive data, information, and emerging evidence pertinent to the respective specialist practice.
8. Demonstrate that knowledge and skill of rendering specialist care are in accordance with standards and protocols of the specialist field.
9. Mobilise appropriate resources to implement standards of practice relevant to the area of specialisation, to ensure quality patient care and safety.
10. Collaborate within the inter-professional team by engaging in health dialogue, shared leadership, decision-making and sound clinical judgment.
11. Apply and participate in the design, development, implementation, and evaluation of nursing policies, qualifications, and projects.
12. Develop and implement policies, protocols, and guidelines in specialisation, utilising the process of change management in improvement of quality of care.

ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1:

Show that personal attributes and behaviour demonstrate conformity to the relevant codes of ethics in the practice of specialist nursing or midwifery, nursing education and health service management.

Demonstrate how critical decision making and moral reasoning models and principles are used to make clinical judgements and resolve ethical dilemmas within the specialist practice.

Demonstrate accountability for own professional judgement, actions, outcomes of specialist care, nursing education or health service management provided, and continued competence are demonstrated.

Identify and apply the relevant current legislation, policies, regulations, and guidelines pertaining to specialist practice or nursing education, or Health Services Management.

Document all care activities accurately, comprehensively, and timeously taking into account the legal requirements for recordkeeping.

Demonstrate knowledge of the nurse specialist or midwife specialist roles in the management of professional misconduct and risks taking into consideration the institutional protocols and ethical-legal framework.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 2:

Engage in specialist practice and demonstrate understanding and the process of evidence-based practice.

Apply evidence-based specialist practice, nursing education and health services management taking into consideration the appropriate methodology of gathering evidence for practice, education, and management, for example, systematic or scoping reviews, appraisal of articles, practice based-research and publication.

Demonstrate knowledge of evidence-based practice, nursing education and health service management, and critically analyse the various levels of evidence.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 3:

Show how leadership skills are demonstrated through application of appropriate leadership styles, principles, and theories of health services management.

Use Continuous Professional Development (CPD) for self and others effectively to facilitate lifelong learning by creating a positive learning climate in the workplace through the processes of mentorship,
preceptorship, supervision, performance appraisal.

Engage in performance appraisal and demonstrate understanding of the purpose and processes of the performance management and development system.

Apply feedback gained from self-reflection, peers, learners, and management to improve effectiveness in the specialist role.

Appraise and develop self, peers and nurse/midwife specialist learners by facilitating self-directedness/leadership and lifelong learning to maintain competence.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 4:

Demonstrate understanding and purpose of the advocacy role for a nurse or midwife specialist.

Show that advocacy principles are used to advocate for safe and quality care in various health care settings or nursing education of health service management.

Lobby or participate in interest groups to influence legislation and policy affecting the role performance.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 5:

Demonstrate understanding of levels and/or classification of the respective specialist units, health services or educational entities.

Show that commissioning tasks taking into consideration the burden of diseases and priority services as determined by current events.

Participate in the evaluation of the existing specialist unit, health or education entity demonstrates knowledge or guidelines for provisioning a specialist unit or health service or educational entity.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 6:

Show that appropriate methods are used to generate evidence for utilisation in specialist practice, education, and health services management.

Demonstrate awareness of the peer-reviewed journals to use for sharing of evidence.

Show that activities in the specialist practice, education and health services management are based on scientifically proven evidence.

Actively participate in inter-professional dialogues/debates/discourses in quality improvement.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 7:

Record all data/information gathered in the context of the specialist practice, education and health services for utilisation and storage in accordance with the set standards.

Show that problem identification, diagnoses and opportunities for improvement are based on gathered and critically analysed assessment data from the patients/clients, families, communities, learners, or employees including current scientific evidence.

Demonstrate that documentation shows respect for intellectual property and is without plagiarism.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 8:

Demonstrate understanding of the position of own specialist service within the health care system.

Show that the nurse or midwife specialist is conversant with the full range of services within the specialist area of practice.

Render specialist care that integrates promotive, preventive, curative, rehabilitative and palliative care in a continuum.

Show that formulated nursing or midwifery diagnoses are congruent with the patient's/client's clinical manifestations/data and are based on accurate analysis and interpretation of data obtained from scientific, laboratory, diagnostic, technological and psycho-sociocultural assessment including consultation of relevant/current literature/evidence.

Show that planned nursing or midwifery interventions are individualised considering patient's/client's needs, values, beliefs, preferences, culture and contextual variables, for example, disease burden, health risks, national priorities, etc.

Show that planned nursing or midwifery interventions are based on formulated nursing diagnoses, and application of specialised knowledge and skills (competencies) including advanced pharmacology in collaboration with the inter-professional team.

Show that planned nursing or midwifery interventions are implemented timeously, accurately, safely, and effectively in accordance with set standards, guidelines, protocols, algorithms, bundles, etc. specific for the specialist field.

Show that health care interventions are planned in collaboration with the patient,
family, and relevant members of the health care team.

Show that nursing interventions include preparation of patients/clients, families, and nurses in the lower-level care for continued care in the hospital and community in accordance with the health status and health
literacy of the patient/client.

Nursing or midwifery interventions are documented and revised timeously and effectively based in critical analysis of the monitoring and evaluation data and reaching a sound judgement.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 9:

Demonstrate understanding of the infrastructure and equipment needed in the specific area of specialisation.

Render specialist care that demonstrates the ability to operate and monitor the equipment used in the specialist area.

Indicate that asset management principles are employed to ensure appropriate, adequate, well maintained and up to date equipment.

Demonstrate that the assignment of staff to nursing care takes into consideration the specialist qualification and its competencies, experience, standard nurse-patient ratios for the area of specialisation, job description and skill mix.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 10:

Indicate that practice problems in the specialist area are identified, shared, and collaboratively solved by informed decisions and sound clinical judgement.

Show that consultation is sought and provided appropriately and timeously in the provision of holistic care in a continuum through awareness of one's competence.

Show that patient referral is carried out appropriately and timeously as dictated by the patient's condition and in accordance with the referral guidelines.

Participate in the inter-professional team and is visible and recognised by the members of the team.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 11:

Demonstrate understanding of the steps in and or levels of the development of policies, qualifications, and projects through participation in the development of policies, qualifications, and projects.

Show that participation in project and policy development demonstrates knowledge of own role and responsibilities within the inter-professional policy/project team.

Show that participation in policy, qualification and project development demonstrates advocacy for the nursing profession and patients/clients, families, and communities in the specialist area.

Provide evidence that participation in project and development includes appropriate communication (negotiation, bargaining, assertive, persuasive, etc.).

Provide evidence that timely and adequate feedback to relevant stakeholder is provided as necessary.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 12:

Demonstrate knowledge of the process and or steps of development of policies, standards, guidelines and protocols.

Show understanding of the process of development of policies, standards, protocols and guidelines involves the relevant and predetermined stakeholders.

Indicate that the process of development and evaluation or testing of guidelines and protocols uses the appropriate methods.

Implement new policies, protocols and guidelines to the specialist area that demonstrate understanding and application of the change process.

Develop policies, protocols, and guidelines, and revise at appropriate intervals and signed as per the institutional policy for the specialist area.

INTERNATIONAL COMPARABILITY

The South African qualification is aligned to the criteria and standards for education, practice and regulation of specialist nurse/midwifery practice made by the International Council of Nurses (ICN) as well as the Emergency Nurses Association. The quality and scope of South African nursing qualifications is endorsed by the fact that most developed countries such as the United Kingdom, United States of America, Canada, Australia, and The Netherlands readily accept qualified learners with South African Nursing qualifications.

South Africa is a longstanding and active member of the ICN as well as the International Labour Organisation (ILO), a member of the African Union (AU), the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the Commonwealth. The proposed qualification would meet the requirements for recognition of qualifications in most of the member countries of these organisations and throughout sub-Saharan Africa. South African Emergency nursing standards exceed those in comparable economies such as Brazil, Indonesia, and India. In Africa, countries such as Botswana, Swaziland, Tanzania, Namibia, Zimbabwe, and Zambia also accept qualified learners with South African nursing qualifications. The African Federation for Emergency Medicine (AFEM) have also developed set guidelines for the development of an Emergency Nursing curriculum to standardize emergency nursing training throughout Africa. The proposed qualification also incorporates these guidelines.

Across all these countries, nursing qualifications are similar in terms of content and duration. This qualification compares favourably with others at this level across all member countries of the ICN and AU where this qualification is offered. Two such qualifications are the Postgraduate Diploma Trauma and Emergency Nursing (University College Cork, Ireland) and Graduate Diploma in Nursing Science Emergency Nursing (University of Adelaide, Australia).

The one-year qualification at both institutions is based on theory- and practice-based learning with exit level outcomes, duration, content, and qualification type being similar. The qualification aims to develop higher-level skills of critical thinking, reasoning, and analysis. Various teaching and learning styles are also incorporated to cater for all types of learners.

Unique features of the proposed qualification include the following:

There are core modules that cut across all fields of specialisation in the different postgraduate diploma qualification. Learners are required to apply such knowledge to the field of nursing education and training.

A component of research, ethics, and evidence-based practice to develop capacity in research in preparation for further studies in any of the specialised fields at a masters and PhD level.

The curriculum covers not only a theoretical component but a practical component as well. Learners are prepared to function as nurse practitioners in the field of Emergency Nursing, hence a mix of teaching-learning activities is applied to develop a range of skills and abilities they will require on a practical level. It includes assignments designed according to principles of simulated experiential learning.

There is a component of compulsory work-integrated learning requiring candidates to complete a prescribed number of working hours in accredited clinical facilities. It provides the opportunity for students to master the ability to transfer knowledge and skills to the real-life emergency environment.

ARTICULATION OPTIONS

This qualification allows possibilities for both vertical and horizontal articulation.

Horizontal Articulation:

Postgraduate Diploma in Nursing, NQF Level 8.

Postgraduate Diploma in Nursing and Health Services Management, NQF Level 8.

Postgraduate Diploma in Nursing Education, NQF Level 8.

Postgraduate Diploma in Occupational Medicine, NQF Level 8.

Postgraduate Diploma in Operation Theatre Nursing, NQF Level 8.

Vertical Articulation:

Master of Nursing, NQF Level 8.

Master of Nursing in Critical Care and Trauma, NQF Level 9.

Master of Nursing Science: Advanced Midwifery and Neonatal Nursing Science, NQF Level 9.

Master of Nursing Science: Community Health, NQF Level 9.

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.

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